A Texas man was spared from the death penalty due to claims of an unfair and racially influenced sentencing. This article from the Austin American Statesman http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/execution-on-hold-while-supreme-court-decides-1861286.html, details the U.S. Supreme Court decision to halt the execution of Duane Buck, a 48 year old man convicted of shooting his ex-girlfriend and a man with her in 1995. Appeals made to the sentencing referenced a testimony by a psychologist that stated that black people were more likely to commit violence.
This article is important simply for its highly sensitive and debated subject matter; the use of capitol punishment is always noteworthy and should never be taken lightly. The deeper relevance in this article is revealed when it discusses Governor Perry’s support of capitol punishment and that his decisions regarding the matter are now being viewed on a national stage due to his current campaign for the presidency. Because the U.S. Supreme Court made the decision, Perry was not required to make a decision to use his thirty day one time pardon in this highly sensitive case, saving him from possible scrutiny from ends of the political spectrum. This article really puts into perspective how Texas politics can affect politics on the national level.
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