Update: Death Penalty Hearing Halted

Barry Scheck, co-director of the Innocence Project, was scheduled to appear in a Harris County criminal courtroom on Wednesday to take part in the death penalty hearing.

Judge Kevin Fine was hearing evidence to determine if there’s a substantial risk that the state’s death penalty law allows for the possible execution of an innocent person.

However, the hearing was halted late Tuesday. Below is the notice from the DA’s office:

(From the Harris County District Attorney’s office)

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Halts Death Penalty Hearing

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office was notified late Tuesday that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, on its own motion, has granted a stay in the death penalty hearing regarding The State of Texas versus John Edward Green being held in the 177th District Court. The hearing on the constitutionality of the death penalty will be effectively stopped pending legal arguments to be made by the parties. All parties will have 15 days to respond to this order by drafting legal briefs with their stated positions.