"HOUSTON 8" Episode 125 : When Science & Justice Collide

In response to the possibility that the State of Texas put an innocent man to death, we ask, what happens when scientific evidence conflicts with a jury's verdict? In 2004, Governor Perry decided not to grant a stay of execution for Cameron Todd Willingham (convicted of the murder of his three daughters). The Governor recently replaced all four of his appointees on the Texas Forensic Science Commission, who had been re-examining evidence in the case. As national media attention focuses on the Governor and his decisions, we ask: When should new scientific procedures overrule a jury decision? Host Ernie Manouse and guests Cathy Burnett, VP/Assoc Dean, South Texas College of Law and Board of Directors, The Innocence Project of Texas; and Sandra Thompson, Director of Criminal Justice Institute, University of Houston Law School discuss what happens when science and justice intersect; original broadcast date October 16, 2009. http://www.houstonpbs.org

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News & Politics

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• Houston 8
• Ernie Manouse
• HoustonPBS
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• Texas Politics
• Governor Perry
• Rick Perry
• death penalty
• arson
• dna
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• Cameron Todd Willingham
• forensic science
• innocence project
• justice
• Cathy Burnett
• Criminal Justice Institute
• Innocence Project of Texas
• Sandra Thompson
• South Texas College of Law
• University of Houston
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