Jonathan Bruce Reed was sentenced to death almost 30 years ago, but may be freed from his Texas prison after action taken by an appeals court. On January 12, 2009, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that racial discrimination occurred during the jury selection for his trial. The allegations involve prosecutors disallowing black jurors because they might have sympathized with the defendant. Reed, who is white, may be released from prison if prosecutors decide not to retry him.Houston Chronicle: Court overturns death sentence in 1978 Texas case (January 13, 2009)
Thomas Miller-El Precedent
According to the 5th Circuit panel, Reed presented the same "historical evidence of racial bias" as Thomas Miller-El, an African-American male who was on Texas' death row for almost 20 years until his verdict was overturned because of racial discrimination during jury selection.Houston Chronicle: Court overturns death sentence in 1978 Texas case (January 13, 2009)
Texas and Death Row
Texas has one of the largest death row populations and has executed the most prisoners during its history of capital punishment. As of 1998, Texas had executed more than twice as many prisoners as any other state. Many speculate that the high number of executions is due to a legal system that does not favor the accused after conviction and possibly other social and cultural factors.Frontline: Why is Texas #1 in Executions?
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Appeals court ruled that African-Americans were illegally excluded from the jury poolHouston Chronicle: Court overturns death sentence in 1978 Texas case (January 13, 2009)
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Manual used for jury selection stated that African-Americans were more likely to sympathize with defendantsHouston Chronicle: Court overturns death sentence in 1978 Texas case (January 13, 2009)
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Death row inmates in Texas are incarcerated an average of 10 years before they are executedTexas Department of Criminal Justice: Death Row Facts
