Audio By Carbonatix
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
James Lee Woodard, who served 27 years in prison before his release today
In the wake of today’s release of James Lee Woodard, yet another Dallas County prisoner exonerated by DNA evidence, State Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston revealed plans for a day-long Summit on Wrongful Convictions. It’s scheduled to take place May 8 down in Austin, where, according to the Innocence Project’s Web site, “key leaders from across the state” will gather “to determine the causes of wrongful convictions in Texas and identify reforms that can prevent them.”
On his Web site today, Ellis offered his “condolences” to Woodard, who served 27 years in prison for a crime DNA evidence revealed he didn’t commit. And, Ellis said in a prepared statement, “We have now had more than 30 DNA exonerations in Texas — more than any other state in the nation. … That’s why I am asking criminal justice experts from around the state and both sides of the aisle to come together in the Texas Capitol on May 8th, review these tragic cases, identify what has gone wrong, make recommendations on how to make it right, and prevent these tragedies in the future.” Further details about the summit are forthcoming, but it will be open to the public and take place at the Capitol building. –Robert Wilonsky
When news happens, Dallas Observer is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If the Dallas Observer matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
