Texas Forensic Panel Moves Slowly, Takes Willingham Case Behind Closed Doors
04.26.10
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.
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