"Hearing Denied for Inmate Set for Execution Aug. 1," is Brandi Grissom's Texas Tribune report.
Brazos County District Court Judge J.D. Langley on Tuesday denied a motion to hold a full hearing on the claims of Marcus Druery's lawyers that he is incompetent for execution because he is severely mentally ill.
Kate Black, who represents Druery and is a staff attorney at the Texas Defender Service, said that the convicted murderer does not have a rational understanding of his upcoming execution and the she was disappointed with the judge's decision.
And:
Black said Druery's lawyers will appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Druery is scheduled to be executed Aug. 1.
The AP filing is, "Texas judge refuses to stop execution next week," via KTRK-TV.
A Brazos County judge has refused to stop the execution next week of a convicted murderer described by his lawyers as mentally incompetent for the death penalty.
State District Court Judge J.D. Langley rejected requests Tuesday by attorneys for Marcus Druery that his Aug. 1 execution be postponed to allow for a competency hearing. Langley says the legal threshold for a hearing hasn't been reached.
Dreury's attorneys say they'll appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled prisoners can't be executed unless they're aware of the punishment and know why they're being punished.
Two news reported noted yesterday have been expanded. "Judge rejects motions to forestall Druery execution," by Maggie Kiely in the Bryan-College Station Eagle, and the Houston Chronicle report, "Killer called schizophrenic, but judge says execution can proceed," by Allan Turner, have additional coverage.
Earlier coverage of Marcus Druery's case begins at the link.
The Supreme Court established standards to assess whether severely mentally ill inmates are competent to be executed in a 1986 case, Ford v. Wainwright; more via Oyez. Related posts are in the competency and mental illness indexes.
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