Texas high court creates integrity unit

June 4, 2008
By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press

AUSTIN � An appeals court in the state that leads the nation in both executions and wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence said Wednesday it will create a new integrity unit to examine and correct problems in the justice system.

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Initial members include state Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat who has long advocated criminal justice reforms; district attorneys from Dallas and El Paso; law enforcement; defense attorneys; a district judge; and a member of Gov. Rick Perry's staff. "We've reached a tipping point in Texas in terms of wrongful convictions," Ellis said. "We have to make sure the mistakes that have happened don't continue to happen." Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who was elected in 2006, said the integrity unit could put Texas at the forefront of reforms nationally. The panel probably will discuss use of the death penalty in the context of how to make sure someone isn't wrongfully executed.

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