Texas Forensic Panel Moves Slowly, Takes Willingham Case Behind Closed Doors

At its meeting on Friday, the Texas Forensic Science Commission decided that its review of the Cameron Todd Willingham case would be handled by a committee of four commissioners — meaning it could be conducted outside of public scrutiny.

Critics accused the panel of moving too slowly under commissioner John Bradley and for seeking to conduct secret meetings.

Houston Chronicle columnist Rick Casey wrote that Friday’s meeting was “just one round in what promises to be a protracted fight over whether the body will become a national model of how to improve the use of science in fighting crime, or just another secretive, bureaucratic body perceived as protecting licensed professionals rather than policing them.”

The meeting received wide-ranging media coverage in Texas over the weekend,

a sample of coverage is below:



Dallas Morning News

live blog of the meeting

Houston Chronicle:

State Panel Revives Review of Arson Inquiry

Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Four-Member Panel to Discuss Willingham Case in Private

Dallas Morning News:

Forensic Panel to Investigate Questionable Forensic Science

Austin American-Statesman:

Forensic Panel ‘Just Beginning’ Willingham Arson Inquiry

Texas Tribune:

The Big Stall

Grits for Breakfast:

Willingham Case Stalled in Seemingly Stacked Panel at Forensic Commission

Visit

our Willingham resource page

for background on the Willingham case.