Texas Judge Charges Former Williamson County Prosecutor Ken Anderson With Three Felonies for Concealing Evidence of Morton’s Innocence

[White Eagle]

We've had a discussion in this forum about how prosecutors will do anything to make sure the defendant gets voted Guilty.
This man Michael Morton, spent 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife. However the prosecutor withheld evidence that proved him innocent. I receive the innocent project news letter and this was highlighted in the email. Bravo for the judge, a TEXAS JUDGE, found the prosecutor guilty, well not guilty but for concealing evidence. This place may straighten up yet!

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Con...g=460&lvl=100&ite=820&lea=1768293&ctr=0&par=1

Michael Morton Prosecutor Will Face Criminal Charges for Withholding Evidence

Texas Judge Charges Former Williamson County Prosecutor Ken Anderson With Three Felonies for Concealing Evidence of Morton’s Innocence

(Austin, TX; April 19, 2013) – Today a Texas court has ruled that former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson will face criminal contempt and tampering charges for failing to turn over evidence pointing to the innocence of Michael Morton, who was later exonerated by DNA evidence after serving 25 years for his wife’s murder, despite a court order and legal obligation to do so. The Judge ruled there was probable cause to believe Anderson violated three criminal laws by concealing evidence in the case and issued a warrant for his arrest. The decision to bring criminal charges against Anderson comes at the conclusion of a Court of Inquiry that was convened at the request of the Innocence Project, which uncovered evidence that Anderson failed to turn over that could have prevented Morton’s wrongful conviction during its decade long legal battle to prove Morton’s innocence. The court found that Anderson should face criminal charges for failing turn over favorable evidence pointing to Morton’s innocence despite specific requests from the defense and an order by the trial judge to do so. The court made specific findings that Anderson knew of evidence supporting Morton’s innocence but intentionally failed to disclose it to the defense.

 

[White Eagle]

I can't believe no one has read this thread. This is major news in Texas, A judge brings criminal charges against a TEXAS PROSECUTOR! for hiding evidence from the defense.

 

[kallipolis]

I can't believe no one has read this thread. This is major news in Texas, A judge brings criminal charges against a TEXAS PROSECUTOR! for hiding evidence from the defense.

I read it and was perplexed why a public prosecutor should behave so badly.

Can the prosecutor be suffering from a particular personality condition that influenced his judgement?

Are public prosecutors' elected officials in Texas?

Please keep us updated for I shall definitely follow this issue with enthusiasm.

 

[palbert]

Texas' propensity to convict on any grounds - and then to fight the probative value of exculpatory evidence - is well known and documented.

It also reveals so much of the injustice in the system.

With luck, times are changing there.

Props to The Innocence Project.

 

[White Eagle]

I read it and was perplexed why a public prosecutor should behave so badly.

Can the prosecutor be suffering from a particular personality condition that influenced his judgement?

Are public prosecutors' elected officials in Texas?

Please keep us updated for I shall definitely follow this issue with enthusiasm.

I've seen this for a long time. I don't know why there are so many people who don't see this. The prosecutors here have one thing on their mind and that is to win the trial. Hide the evidence and see if no one notices. This is one thing the Innocence Project has brought about. Before them the innocents in prison had no one to help them.
I will have to check if the Prosecutors are elected. I'm sure someone here will post the answer before I can look it up. I'm am, unfortunately, not very knowledgeable on Texas laws. I cannot explain why. I don't know.

 

[palbert]

Is there any way to compensate him monetarily for the 25 years - other than for him to file a lawsuit?

 

[White Eagle]

Thank you kallipolis. I've learned something about Texas today. I see I beat Centex to it. Just like prosecutors, win at all costs.

http://www.tdcaa.com/journal/welcome-newly-elected-prosecutors

Welcome, newly elected prosecutors!
By Rob Kepple

TDCAA Executive *Director in Austin

The 2012 election cycle brought plenty of changes to the profession of criminal prosecution. Texas is unique in that the state constitution devolves the potent power of criminal prosecution to 334 locally-elected county attorneys, district attorneys, and criminal district attorneys. Of that 334, it appears that we set a modern-day record: Counting those who were recently appointed in 2012 to take over for those retiring a little early, we have 70 newly-elected prosecutors who took the oath of office on January 1, 2013.

 

[palbert]

The prosecutors appear to be elected (unless appointed to fill a vacancy created off the election cycle).

http://www.tdcaa.com/journal/welcome-newly-elected-prosecutors

 

[kallipolis]

I've seen this for a long time. I don't know why there are so many people who don't see this. The prosecutors here have one thing on their mind and that is to win the trial. Hide the evidence and see if no one notices. This is one thing the Innocence Project has brought about. Before them the innocents in prison had no one to help them.
I will have to check if the Prosecutors are elected. I'm sure someone here will post the answer before I can look it up. I'm am, unfortunately, not very knowledgeable on Texas laws. I cannot explain why. I don't know.

Thanks, for the update and note palbert's comments on the Innocence Project worthy of their involvement in this matter.

- - - Updated - - -

The prosecutors appear to be elected (unless appointed to fill a vacancy created off the election cycle).

http://www.tdcaa.com/journal/welcome-newly-elected-prosecutors

Thanks, for the advice

 

[Vitamin]

"Win at any cost, even it winds up with me being thrown in prison with all the real bad guys I threw away!"

Smart move prosecutor, smart move.

 

[White Eagle]

Is there any way to compensate him monetarily for the 25 years - other than for him to file a lawsuit?

This is another story from the Innocence project in Arizona. Apparently they have the same type of prosecutors in their State. This guy was forced to sign the statement. Read below.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/Arizona_Arson_Case_Overturned.php

Innocence Blog
Arizona Arson Case Overturned

Posted: April 3, 2013 5:50 pm

Louis Taylor, wrongfully convicted of setting a 1970 Arizona fire that claimed the lives of 29 people, was finally released this week after 42 years in prison on a no-contest plea. The Pioneer International Hotel fire is the worst in Arizona’s history, though arson experts now believe that it wasn’t intentionally set.

--snip--

Despite the new scientific evidence challenging the finding of arson, prosecutorial misconduct, and other evidence of Taylor’s innocence, he has not been exonerated. Instead, he was forced to accept a no-contest plea in order to be released. The plea allows him to continue maintaining his innocence but the plea will almost certainly bar him from seeking civil remedies. Arizona is one of 23 states that does not provide exoneree compensation.

 

[White Eagle]

"Win at any cost, even it winds up with me being thrown in prison with all the real bad guys I threw away!"

Smart move prosecutor, smart move.

I know what you say. It's gonna take the Innocence Project a long time to go through all the prisons getting the innocent released.

 

[White Eagle]

I'll just throw this in as it still pisses me off. If the prosecutors in LA had taken it slow and not rush to judgement OJ would have been found guilty. They were worried about their reelections and screwed it up royally.

 

[TX-Beau]

Ya know - EVERYONE knows, you don't carry pot, in Williamson County. 'Cause they're bastards there.

 

[krfflyer]

Read about this on Longform.org. Their May 2 post is an article from Texas Monthly by Patricia Colloff called "The Innocent Man". Hadn't heard of this case before, but just a great article. Sadly, the sheriff seems to have decided who did the murder (the husband), and the DA Anderson came to agree with him, so their "investigation" was really about putting the guy in prison. Anderson is a slime ball. A really sad part was how it damaged his relationship with his son (3 years old at the time). So well written and researched, well worth anyone's time to read. And this DA Anderson richly deserves being put into the Texas Prison System, as his withholding evidence from the Defense lawyers was undeniably a criminal act, based on Texas law.

 

[frankfrank]

It was an easy conviction to make, if the exonerating evidence was withheld, so it was withheld - I guess. (I'm not entirely familiar with the case and well, too busy to read up entirely.) A guaranteed conviction so that the prosecutor will look "tough on crime" so that he can be re-elected over and over.

WHY did I assume that prosecutors were elected even before seeing palbert's answer, but after seeing the question?

The double tragedy is that not only is a life (and, perhaps, a family) wrecked for life from false prosecution, but the person who did the crime is scot-free to walk about and kill or harm others.

 

[cm98059]

This will bring every case that prosecutor ever tried under review. I would bet that there is a line tomorrow morning of every person convicted by this prosecutor seeking a new trial.