Where else can you get an award for obstructing justice
Those of you who followed the Willingham investigation probably remember that a judge started to hear testimony in a Court of Inquiry proceeding. A motion was filed to stop the hearing, which was ultimately successful. That motion was filed by R. Lowell Thompson, the Navarro County District. The end result was that witnesses who were scheduled and ready to testify never had a chance.
When combined with the actions of the Forensic Science Commission the goal of scuttling any inquiry into the investigation has been successful. There still has never been a hearing addressing the validity of Dr. Hurst's initial report, and there likely never will be. No matter what your position on the case is, I would think that is worrisome.
While I can't say that much surprises me about this case anymore, I was surprised when I learned that the Texas District County and Attorney's Association gave an award to Mr. Thompson at its annual convention recently. Normally, people get awards for doing positive things. Mr. Thompson got an award for derailing an investigation aimed at finding out what really happened. He was surprised, and so am I!
What is really disturbing are the reasons he advanced; perhaps he felt a need to justify getting an award. He stated he was concerned about a lack of local participation - which frankly is a legitimate issue. The problem is that he was not excluded. He had a full notice, as did everyone else. He could have come and sat down at the table, and cross-examined all the witnesses. Which would have been a good thing. He could have also presented his own witnesses - again a good thing. He had an opportunity to make the State's case and quiet all the criticism. Instead of doing that he went in and shut and it down.
The controversy over this case is never going to die down. A big reason is that instead of putting everything out there - and letting people make up their own minds - the strategy has been to brush it aside, and prevent any further investigation. Is that really something you should get an award for?
