A prosecutor says he is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reverse the governor’s pardon of a former Army sergeant who was convicted of fatally shooting a Black Lives Matter demonstrator.

The Texas governor’s pardon of a former Army sergeant who fatally shot a Black Lives Matter demonstrator undermines the state’s legal system and constitution and should be reversed, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Travis County District Attorney José Garza said he is filing request with the Court of Criminal Appeals — the state’s highest criminal court — to review the pardon issued by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, which he said made a mockery of the legal system and put politics ahead of justice.

“We will continue to use the legal process to seek justice,” Garza said during a news conference in Austin.

Daniel Perry shot and killed Garrett Foster during a protest in downtown Austin in July 2020. Perry was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison in May 2023, prompting immediate calls for a pardon from conservative figures. Abbott issued the pardon last month and Perry was quickly released from prison.

    • Vanon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      6 months ago

      Zero chance. In Texas, decades of Republican control has corrupted the state courts, stacked supreme court (zero Democrats), who coincidentally never rule against their governor.

      Voter’s choice? I’m not convinced these types of proud facists (who’ve projected stolen elections and other lies for years) value free and fair elections. The good ol’ boys know best.

    • frezik@midwest.social
      8·
      6 months ago

      Yeah, that’s a thing in Texas?

      Don’t get me wrong, this guy is a piece of shit, and so is Abbot. I’m just surprised this is even an option.