Today's Austin American-Statesman carries the editorial, "Possibility of misconduct enough to merit full Anderson inquiry."
It's been four months since Michael Morton was released from prison, exonerated of charges of murdering his wife, Christine. Michael Morton spent 25 years in prison. Attaining his freedom was but one phase in Morton's search for justice; another is under way.
And this new phase focuses on former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson and whether he hid evidence that could have led to Morton's acquittal. Morton's search for greater justice has left Anderson, now a state district judge in Georgetown, with a search of his own: to clear his name and reputation.
State District Judge Sid Harle clearly saw what was at stake for Morton and Anderson when he rightly decided Friday to request a special court of inquiry to examine Anderson's actions in Morton's case. There is probable cause, Harle said, that Anderson violated state law when he prosecuted Morton.
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson now will decide whether to grant Harle's request. If he agrees with Harle — and a respect for justice demands that he must — he will name a state district judge to oversee the special court of inquiry.
"Inquiry needed in Morton case," is today's Dallas Morning News editorial.
Michael Morton committed no crime the morning of Aug. 13, 1986, which started out as innocently as any other: out the door at 5:30 a.m. for his job as a grocery store manager. The public knows that today.
What we don’t know is whether a crime was committed in putting Morton in prison for nearly 25 years in the beating death of his wife that summer morning. While Morton’s innocence is unquestioned, former District Attorney Ken Anderson must account for disturbing questions about how he orchestrated a case he could sell to a jury and why he withheld exculpatory evidence before trial and during years of appeals.
For that reason we welcome a state judge’s decision in Williamson County last week recommending a rare court of inquiry into Anderson’s behavior.
And:
Jefferson’s decision also could help lay the foundation for reforms in the Texas criminal justice system. With the nation’s longest list of DNA-proven exonerations, the state must build in more safeguards against substandard or dishonest police and prosecutorial work.
The Constitution guarantees that a defendant has access to evidence that could be helpful to the defense, as a check against treachery by government officials. Many states ensure that standard is met through a mandatory “open file” system whereby defense and prosecuting attorneys exchange information before trial. The benefits of that system could become clearer with a detailed examination of Anderson’s prosecution of Morton.
Earlier coverage of the Michael Morton case begins at the link.
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