Sunday, May 18, 2008

By MAX B. BAKER

Ft. Worth Star-Telegram staff writer

AUSTIN -- Prompted by accusations that people are in prison for crimes they did not commit, Texas' top jurists are supporting a proposal to create a statewide Innocence Commission to investigate wrongful convictions and recommend criminal justice reforms.

Wallace Jefferson, chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, the state's highest civil court, voiced support for a commission in 2005 and 2007. Now he said he is specifically calling on state lawmakers to find money for the effort.

"I haven't heard an objection that persuades me that it is not a good idea," Jefferson said. "What better way to spend public dollars than to make sure the innocent doesn't go to jail?"

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