A few odds and ends

I was in trial all day yesterday so here are a few bits and pieces you might find interesting...

Democracy Now! is broadcasting a special expanded presidential debate tonight. After the question is asked, the debate will be paused so that Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Justice Party candidate Rocky Anderson can have equal time to respond. Coverage begins at 7:30pm central time.

If you don't have a radio station that carries Democracy Now!, here's a link to Houston's own community radio station, KPFT.

Two prosecutors with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office are former prosecutors this morning. Reese Campbell was terminated and Jon Hall resigned. The two are alleged to have committed acts of prosecutorial misconduct.

I have worked with Mr. Campbell for years down on the island and I never had any issues with his handling of any cases. However, it is good to see that District Attorney Jack Roady isn't going to put up with his prosecutors taking shortcuts and withholding evidence.

Harris County opened a felony mental health court yesterday that will seek to place mentally ill defendants on probation instead of behind bars. The court has been operating informally since May. There are currently 45 defendants on probation with room for another 35.

This is a mixed bag. On the one hand it's a step in the right direction that someone has decided locking up the mentally ill isn't a good use of resource. On the other hand, the criminal (in)justice system is not the best device  to dispense care for the mentally ill.