Good start for theForensic Commission
In 2005 the Texas legislature created a Forensic Commission. Their job was to investigate complaints of forensic misconduct. Frankly, I didn't expect them to do anything, and I still don't have high hopes. However, they at least got off to a good start - even if did take almost 3 years.
The commission voted on Friday to review two arson cases - Cameron Willingham and Ernest Willis. One was executed, and the other released, on almost identical evidence. The Innocence Project has already commissioned a report that was prepared by the leading experts in the country, so I don't know how much work is going to be required. Maybe that's why they took these two cases.
I'm not sure what they can accomplish, but hopefully this will raise awareness of the issue of flawed arson investigations. There are other cases out there, and people still serving time for something that was not a crime.
I represented Cameron Willingham in the final stages of his appeals, and presented the evidence to the courts and the governor. The response from the governor's office was that he "didn't see anything that would convince him he should postpone the execution". I'll never forget that statement - but I guess its too much to expect something like innocence to get in the way of an execution. It's too late for Mr. Willingham, but maybe the commission can do something to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.
