Opinion

Ex Parte Bower

  • 823 S.W.2d 284
  • 1991 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 263
  • 1991 WL 253121
Court
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Filed
Dec 4, 1991
Status
Published
Author
Overstreet
On the bench
Benavides, Baird, Overstreet, Clinton, Miller, Maloney
Cited by
19 cases

good and non-violent character, good deeds, no criminal record

How later courts described this case

  • good and non-violent character, good deeds, no criminal record

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

OVERSTREET, Judge,

concurring.

This Court’s recent series of opinions regarding mitigating evidence dictates that on a case by case examination said evidence may or may not rise to the level that causes it to be beyond the scope of the special issues of the Texas capital murder sentencing scheme. I remain with the majority on this view. This opinion correctly analyzes the evidence admitted and correctly concludes that the statutory special issues provided an adequate vehicle for the jury’s consideration of mitigating evidence in the appellant’s case and no special instruction regarding the evidence was neces *288 sary. The opinion in my view goes beyond permissible bounds when it concludes that “Moreover, we perceive no long held belief by the American people that those lawfully convicted of murder who have strong devotion to family, friends and religion are less culpable or blameworthy than those who murder and have no such excuse [footnote omitted].” Since I am unwilling to concede that I share that perception, I disavow said language and concur in the result only.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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