From Grits:
The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee has posted an agenda which includes three important pieces of innocence legislation carried by Chairman Pete Gallego:
- HB 215 Relating to photograph and live lineup identification procedures in criminal cases.
- HB 219 Relating to the electronic recording and admissibility of certain custodial interrogations.
- HB 220 Relating to procedures for applications for writs of habeas corpus based on relevant scientific evidence.
State Sen. Rodney Ellis is carrying the first two on the senate side, while Senate Criminal Justice Chairman John Whitmire has filed a companion bill to HB 220. In the House, Gallego is Innocence Man!
He’s optimistic that these bills, whose effect he describes in more detail, will make it through. There’s a committee hearing for today, so this is a chance for them to progress. Click over for more information.