Prosecutors urge commissioners to reprimand Judge Sharon Keller

The case of Judge Sharon Keller, presiding judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the late execution appeal isn't over.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that prosecutors have filed documents saying that the judge deserves to be reprimanded or removed from office for refusing to keep the clerk's office open late to allow an appeal in September 2007 from death row inmate Michael Richard.

Richard, convicted of capital murder in the 1986 slaying of a Houston-area woman, was executed later that night without his final appeal being heard.

The prosecutors filed papers with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which will decide Keller's fate. A special master has already ruled that Keller wasn't to blame for the failure of the last-minute appeal to be heard.

Keller's attorney has also filed objections in the case.

(Judge Keller photo by Eric Gay/AP)

Comments

[bigbart50]

had it been a family/friend member i bet she would have keep her office open. she prolly had a nail/hair appointment. What if this guy wasn't really guilty?

[Jake]

Humm. A Special Master ruled the Judge was not at fault. But, the prosecutors want her burned at the stake. Sounds like a bit political posturing on the prosecutors' side. Get over it and prosecute the real criminals.

[Cronopio]

Good for the prosecutors!

[Nika]

There you go again good ole Texas Judicial system. I agree with bigbart50.

[Wayne Ylen]

These prosecutors should be identified so that citizens can work to remove them from office and ensure that prosecutors are properly engaged in prosecuting criminals instead of taking up for convicted criminals by sponsoring frivilous lawsuits against judges.