Fort Worth State Rep. Lon Burnam filed a resolution this afternoon calling for the impeachment of Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller.
Keller sparked controversy and condemnation two years ago when she refused to keep the court open past 5 p.m. on Sept. 25 to allow for a last-minute appeal for condemned killer Michael Wayne Richard who was awaiting execution.
Earlier that day, the U.S. Supreme Court had announced that it would hear arguments over the constitutionality of lethal injection. Richard's lawyers were attempting to argue that Richard’s 6 p.m. execution should be set aside in light of the Supreme Court's ruling.
Six weeks later, the court announced it would allow defense lawyers to submit after-hours emergency pleadings by e-mail.
Burnam's resolution, house resolution 480, charges Keller, a Republican, with "neglect of duty" over the incident and charges her with operating with "willful disregard for human life."
"It's one thing for a banker to close shop at five o'clock sharp," Burnam, a Democrat, said in a statement. "But a public official who stands between a human being and the death chamber must be held to a higher standard."
If the House calls for impeachment, a trial would be held in the State Senate, according to Burnam's office.
UPDATE: The bill is online here.
-Aman Batheja
How sad, I would have thought that a Judge would be more honest and Professional than that. With the outrageous pay they get they could afford to stay a few hours after 5 for a life or death matter.
Posted by: ed_bunton@yahoo.com | February 16, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Burnam's a coward and an idiot. Can we sentence him to spend the rest of his life in Mexico with all of his constituents?
Posted by: Thomas Sullivan of Bedford | February 16, 2009 at 06:26 PM
Burnam is just trying to get some name recognition. Hopefully, this will just result in a slap on the wrist or a mild censure.
Posted by: CP-WONK | February 16, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Loni burnam is an idiot, he is a demoncrat after all. Richards lawyers had all day to get to the court to enter a motion to delay but they were screwing around. But does loni b. talk about incompetent lawyers? Nope, that is one of his greatest constituents so he won't call them to task for being stupid and liberal like. Oh and loni, you are pro-choice and you do nothing to stop the slaughter of the unborn and you have the gaul to bash Judge Keller for not stopping the death sentence? Richards was a murderer and deserved to die, the unborn have done nothing wrong and yet you enjoy their deaths by claiming it is a woman's right. I find that interesting, well when you see Richards in hell one day ask him if he likes having you as a neighbor. I am sure he will be pleased to know you fought for him.
Posted by: James Mahoney | February 17, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Kudos to Rep. Burnam for taking on one of the stinking rats of the Texas Judicial System, one of the greatest shames of this state and embarrassments of the civilized world. We know the murderous Judge Keller has her cheering squad in the state (see above comments), but this is one of the moments in which we will see if Texas is ready to rejoin America and the Rule of Law.
Posted by: Gary | February 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM