Video of our 2007 Alternative Spring Break

Sign the Judicial Complaint Against Texas Judge Sharon Keller

If you are as shocked as we were by the refusal of Judge Sharon Keller to accept an appeal 20 minutes after 5 PM by lawyers representing a man about to be executed, then sign on to our complaint. We will submit the complaint to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on November 14, 2007. Anyone can sign on to the complaint. It is intended as a means for regular members of the public to express their outrage at Keller's action.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller should resign or be removed from office for her conduct regarding the execution of Michael Richard. She closed the court's office at 5 PM without consulting any of the other judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, even the one other judge who was assigned to handle any late motions in Richard's case, Judge Cheryl Johnson. To begin her removal from office, someone should file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

As long as Keller is in office, the people of Texas can not be sure that justice is being done with integrity.

Presiding Judge Sharon Keller closed the offices at the regular time Sept. 25, preventing attorneys for inmate Michael Richard from filing an appeal seeking to halt his execution hours after the U.S. Supreme Court said it would consider a Kentucky case questioning the constitionality of lethal injection. Richard was executed that night after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant him a reprieve.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday that Keller made the decision to close without consulting any of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' eight other judges or later informing them about the decision — including Johnson, who was assigned to handle any late motions in Richard's case.

"And I was angry," she said. "If I'm in charge of the execution, I ought to have known about those things, and I ought to have been asked whether I was willing to stay late and accept those filings."

Johnson said her first reaction was "utter dismay."

Johnson said she would have accepted the brief for consideration by the court. "Sure," she said. "I mean, this is a death case."

"First off, was justice done in the Richard case? And secondly, will the public perceive that justice was done and agree that justice was done?" Judge Cathy Cochran said. "Our courts should be open to always redress a true wrong, and as speedily as possible. That's what courts exist for."