Attorney General’s Ruling Leaves Cameron Todd Willingham’s Case Unresolved

Kirsten Bokenkamp, Communications Coordinator Texas leads the country in executions, and Attorney General Greg Abbott’s recent decision is yet another turn in Texas’ death penalty saga.  Based on Abbott’s ruling, cases such as Cameron Todd Willingham’s will be left unresolved, with his proclaimed innocence – and the evidence to prove it – hanging just out of reach.  We can’t help but wonder how, exactly, the AG came to this convoluted decision, and we question how politically motivated it might have been.   Specifically, last week, Abbott issued a decision that the Texas Forensic Science Commission (TFSC) can only evaluate evidence tested or used in court after the TFSC came into existence on Sept. 1, 2005.  This excludes most of Mr. Willingham’s case from review. So, as the Corpus Christi Caller-Times explains, even though forensic science has progressed, Abbott's decision prevents the application of today's knowledge to correct mistakes by investigators who acted competently and in good faith but were limited by the technology of the day.   The TFSC has already said that fire science (Willingham was convicted of arson), has made huge advancements since 1991.  It was unfair that the newest and best evidence wasn’t used before Willingham was executed, and while a likely innocent life can no longer be saved, his legacy should still have that chance.   This ruling certainly has generated a lot of questions.  Check out more on this issue:

• http://www.aclu.org/blog/project/capital-punishment
• http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/01/3262016/texas-ags-forensic-ruling-further.html
• http://www.caller.com/news/2011/aug/04/new-limit-on-state-forensics-panel-is-a-justice/
• http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20110803-editorial-forensic-panel-should-be-aggressive-despite-ag-opinion.ece
• http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2011-08-05/a-g-ruling-on-arson-probe-is-just-weird/
• http://www.salon.com/news/rick_perry/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/08/03/perry_willingham_survey