Campus Progress Student Reps in Austin, Texas have been doing some amazing work through Students Against the Death Penalty (SADP) and the Texas Moratorium Network.

One of their biggest issues right now is the impeachment of a state judge that refused to receive paperwork a few minutes for an urgent appeal from a man that was scheduled to be executed the same night. The cause against Judge Keller has received widespread support, including from the New York Times. SADP has a campaign website where you can find more information about this issue.

You can find recent testimony at a committee hearing from Hooman Hedayati, a University of Texas student, and an update from Margaret Haule, a student at Austin Community College, below:

Update on Effort to Impeach Judge Sharon Keller

By Margaret Haule

For the first time in 34 years, the impeachment of a State Judge is in the process in Texas.

Judge Sharon Keller of the Texas Supreme Court came under intense national scrutiny for her actions related to a condemned man's execution, garnering attention from Newsweek magazine, Austin American Statesman, and other noted media.  She had denied his legal counsel the right to file a last minute stay of execution which resulted in a public outcry due to the fact that it was against normal procedures and due process of law for those on Death Row. 

On April 27, 2009, the Texas House Committee on Judicial and Civil Jurisprudence at the Texas State Capitol met in a crowded committee room full with people staying into the late hours of the night and early morning in support of the impeachment proceedings, with some standing due to the lack of available places to sit, and others traveling back and forth to other committee hearings taking place at the time.  Many people did not leave until past 12 AM because of the long list of attendees who had come to affirm impeachment proceedings against Judge Sharon Keller among other bills and resolutions.

House Representative Lon Burnam of Fort Worth introduced House Resolution 480.  The HR 480 would "create a special committee on impeachment to consider the impeachment of Judge Sharon Keller of the Court of Criminal Appeals for gross neglect of duty and conducting her official duties with willful disregard for human life".  Testimonies followed afterwards with many people affirming the resolution and only one lone judge arguing against it.  Since it was a public hearing, those wishing to declare to the committee their stance on the resolution, were required to fill out a necessary one page form called the "Witness Affirmation Form", but it was not mandatory that they testify, they could register their position without testifying and the committee would be informed.

The House Resolution 480 was left pending in the committee.  Interested parties are invited to keep track of its progress at theTexas Legislature website.