In this country—we all have a right to a fair trial.Duane Buck’s right to a fair trial was thwarted when a psychologist testified that “African American criminals are more likely to pose a future danger to the public.” Now, Duane Buck sits on death row in Texas. With Buck’s case, there is the looming possibility that a precedent will be set that justifies the system treating people differently because of their race.
Former Texas Attorney General and current Senator John Cornyn stood up and opposed this testimony while he was the State’s Attorney General. He identified a number of cases where this same testimony was elicited and saw to it that new trials were had by all those who he was then empowered to help. Because he is not currently our Attorney General the decision now falls upon our new Harris County District Attorney to make the appropriate decision. It is fundamentally unfair to move forward with the execution of Buck in light of the evidence of race-based sentencing. Like any other defendant, Buck deserves a new, fair sentencing hearing.
The Texas NAACP is seeking citizens to petition the Texas District Attorney Anderson and Texas State officials, urging them to provide a new fair sentencing hearing for Duane Buck:
Dozens of diverse voices from across Texas and nationwide are calling for a new sentencing hearing for Buck, including a former Harris County Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted Buck and other former prosecutors, national and state civil rights leaders, elected officials, clergy and legal professionals. Even the surviving victim in the case, Phyllis Taylor, has forgiven Buck and does not want to see him executed.
Duane Buck deserves a fair trial.
