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PoliticsQuiet 4d · day 4

Texas court overturns judge's innocence ruling for death-row inmate Melissa Lucio

An appeals court rejected a trial judge's 2024 finding that Lucio is innocent, leaving her conviction intact despite bipartisan calls for her release.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 4d ago5 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • A Texas appeals court rejected a trial judge's 2024 ruling declaring Melissa Lucio innocent of capital murder in her daughter's death, leaving her on death row after 18 years.
  • The trial judge had found prosecutors presented false testimony and suppressed evidence; new scientific evidence contradicted the state's abuse theory in favor of an accidental fall.
  • The 5-4 decision by the all-Republican court drew four dissents; Lucio's legal team will now appeal to federal court.
  • If executed, Lucio would be the first Latina executed by Texas since 1863 and the first woman since 2014.

Melissa Lucio Death-row inmateTexas Court of Criminal Appeals State appellate courtVanessa Potkin Director of special litigation, Innocence Project; Lucio's attorneyKim KardashianKim Kardashian Criminal justice reform advocate

Texas court overturns judge's innocence ruling for death-row inmate Melissa Lucio
Mercury News

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

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Sep 25Sep 26Sep 27yesterdaynow · 5:35 AM ET
  1. 1

    Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejects innocence ruling in 5-4 decision

    The all-Republican appeals court majority rejected the trial judge's innocence ruling, saying it relied too heavily on Lucio's interpretation of events rather than the prosecution's. Four judges dissented from the unsigned majority opinion, leaving Lucio on death row.

    “We will proceed to federal court and do everything in our power to make sure Melissa …, an innocent mother who has suffered unbelievably, is not executed for a crime that never occurred.”
    — Vanessa Potkin

    1. 5 outlets first by Orlando Sentinel, 4d ago · also Baltimore Sun, Mercury News, CNN, Philadelphia Inquirer · read ↗

  2. background

    Trial judge rules Lucio is innocent, finds prosecutorial misconduct — Lucio's original trial judge issued a 62-page ruling concluding she was "actually innocent" of capital murder, finding that prosecutors presented false testimony, suppressed evidence, and that new scientific evidence unavailable at her 2008 trial contradicts the state's case. The judge also determined the child was injured in an accidental fall down a steep staircase two days before she died, not from abuse.

  3. background

    Texas court halts Lucio's execution two days before scheduled lethal injection — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a review of Lucio's case just two days before her scheduled execution, narrowly sparing her life.

  4. background

    Melissa Lucio convicted of capital murder in daughter's death — Lucio was convicted of capital murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, after the child sustained severe head trauma that prosecutors said came from abuse.