H.R. No. 808

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Three former death row inmates who have been
	exonerated of the crimes for which they were convicted are visiting
	the State Capitol on March 3, 2015, the Day of Innocence, in support
	of a moratorium on executions and other related measures; and
	WHEREAS, These individuals are among the 150 men and women in
	the United States who have been released from death row since 1973,
	either because their convictions were overturned and they won
	acquittal at retrial, because the charges against them were
	dropped, or because they were given an absolute pardon based on new
	evidence of their innocence; and
	WHEREAS, Sentenced to death in Mississippi in 1990, Sabrina
	Butler appealed to the state supreme court and was granted a new
	trial in 1995; in addition to the introduction of new testimony that
	corroborated Ms. Butler's account of the incident, the medical
	examiner changed his ruling in the case, and she was acquitted; now
	married and the mother of three children, she recently published a
	memoir, The Sabrina Butler Story; and
	WHEREAS, Gary Drinkard was convicted in Alabama in 1995; in
	2000, the state supreme court ordered a retrial on the basis of
	prosecutorial misconduct, and the following year a second jury
	found him innocent; his case was subsequently presented to the U.S.
	Senate Judiciary Committee to illustrate the critical need for
	competent legal representation for defendants facing the death
	penalty; and
	WHEREAS, Framed for murder, Shujaa Graham was sentenced in
	California in 1976; the state supreme court overturned his
	conviction because the district attorney had systematically
	excluded African American jurors in his first trial; Mr. Graham was
	ultimately acquitted in 1981, and since then he has played a leading
	role in the anti-death penalty and human rights movements; and
	WHEREAS, There is no way to restore to these individuals the
	years they have lost, or to compensate them for the mental and
	emotional anguish they have suffered; despite the immeasurable pain
	they have endured, they have found the resilience to devote
	themselves to effecting reforms in the criminal justice system, and
	their efforts are a source of continuing inspiration to people
	throughout this nation and beyond; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2015, as the Day of Innocence
	and honor Sabrina Butler, Gary Drinkard, and Shujaa Graham for
	their significant contributions to the debate over an issue of
	paramount public concern.
	Dutton
	Straus González Otto
	Allen Guerra Paddie
	Alonzo Guillen Parker
	Alvarado Gutierrez Paul
	Anchia Harless Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips
	Ashby Howard Pickett
	Aycock Huberty Price
	Bell Hughes Raney
	Bernal Hunter Raymond
	Blanco Isaac Reynolds
	Bohac Israel Riddle
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
	Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
	Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
	Button King of Parker Sanford
	Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield
	Clardy Klick Schubert
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Cyrier Laubenberg Smith
	Dale Leach Smithee
	Darby Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer
	Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson
	Deshotel Márquez Stickland
	Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Elkins McClendon Tinderholt
	Faircloth Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Fallon Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farias Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farney Miles VanDeaver
	Farrar Miller of Comal Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Flynn Moody Walle
	Frank Morrison White of Bell
	Frullo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Galindo Murphy Workman
	Geren Murr Wray
	Giddings Naishtat Wu
	Goldman Nevárez Zedler
	Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 808 was adopted by the House on March 3,
	2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House