Rodney Reed oral arguments before notorious judge March 19th

Oral arguments in the quest for a new trial for Rodney Reed will be heard on Wednesday March 19th at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The presiding judge of the CCA, Judge Sharon Keller, has come under fire recently for denying the appeal of Michael Richard -- the last person to be executed in Texas as national de facto moratorium on executions took effect -- because she was unwilling to keep the court open after 5 PM.

Rodney Reed deserves a new trial, where evidence of his innocence can finally be heard in court. Evidence was hidden by police and prosecutors that implicate another suspect in the murder of Stacey Stites. Read the attached fact sheet for an overview of the case. Rodney’s defense has long posited that Jimmy Fennell, the fiance of Stacey, is the more likely suspect in this crime. For recent developments surrounding Jimmy Fennell check out:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/07/0107fennell.html

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/09/0309fennell.html

"Who is Rodney Reed?"

"Rodney Reed has been on Texas’ death row since 1998. He was convicted for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in the small town of Bastrop. Stacey’s brutal murder struck at the very heart of the community, not only for its brutality, but for the sinister chain of events it would set into motion. Rodney’s case is a troubling mixture of prosecutoral misconduct, police corruption, poor defense, and institutional racism. Evidence of Rodney’s innocence is overwhelming and the need for a new trial is indisputable."

To read more about this disturbing case visit:

http://freerodneyreed.org/who.html

To voice your support for Rodney, you can call on one of these numbers:

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
(512) 463-1551

ATTORNEY GENERAL GREG ABBOTT
(512) 463-2100

If you live anywhere near the court, you can attend.

ATTEND ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE OF RODNEY REED
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 9 AM
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 201 14TH STREET

Enter through glass doors on plaza which face out to Congress on north side of Capitol. The courtroom should be on the right, or ask at the desk for directions

Update: Rodney Reed's mother, Sandra, will be speaking at this event in Austin, Texas, on April 9th.

CEDP’s 2007 – 2008 National Speaking Tour
A Broken System – Crying out For Justice

In Austin, April 9, 2008
At UT, The Texas Union, Chicano Culture Room

Featuring Mothers of Texas Death Row Prisoners:

Anna Terrell - mother of Reginald Blanton
Lee Greenwood – mother of Joseph Nichols, killed March 7, 2007

Sandra Reed – mother of Rodney Reed

Also a “Live From Death Row” Event, with a live call from a death row prisoner.

So Save the Date!