Wow, Texas chose not to execute somebody today.

[Jara sang]

That is strange.

[Solly Mack]

1. Goodness...maybe it is the rapture

strange signs and portents and all that

[Ezlivin]

2. We're too busy hiring illegal immigrants to mow our lawns

Don't worry, Texas will make up for lost time.

[MADem]

3. Well, the jury didn't do what the prosecution wanted, anyway! NT

[lastliberalintexas]

4. The Texas criminal justice system is screwy

Due to the publicity surrounding the Yates trial, the jury members could not have helped but know something about the case, her mental illness, and that she deserved to spend time in an institution rather than prison. Without the publicity, the jury might not have known much of what it needed to know, as Texas juries are too often kept in the dark about many things. Indeed, one of the reasons Texas juries vote to impose death so often is that they are not told of the other options before or even at the time they are forced to vote on the death sentence. Which leaves some of them thinking that the perp might only get 5 years since we also have no true life without parole, so they vote for death. It's certainly a screwed up system, and prior to the fascists taking complete control of the USSC, even the Court had issued some warnings to the state to clean things up. Unfortunately, that still hasn't happened.