We just talked to Terri Hodge’s office at 11:15 PM tonight and found out that HB 2267 (the Law of Parties bill) passed the Calendars Committee today and was placed on the General State Calendar for a vote by the full House May 8, which means it will likely be voted on this Friday on the floor of the House. Hodge’s office says there is a small chance they could vote on it as soon as Thursday sometime, but more likely it will be Friday.
Number one priority is if you live in Texas call your own Texas state representative today and urge them to vote for HB 2267.
If passed, this bill would prohibit the Texas from seeking the death penalty for people who do not kill but are convicted under the Law of Parties and it would
require separate trials for co-defendants in death penalty cases.
If you live in Texas, click here to find out who your state representative is.
Tell the office you call that HB 2267 is on the General State Calendar for May 8.
This is what we have been working so hard for the last several months! The hard work is paying off. Like with every bill, we could still lose the floor vote, but if people make calls to their state representatives, then that will improve our chances.
Sample Message (change it to your own words) “Hello, I am calling to urge Representative X to vote in favor of HB 2267, the Law of Parties bill. It is on the General State Calendar for May 8. HB 2267 would require separate trials for co-defendants in capital trials and would prohibit the state from seeking the death penalty for people who do not kill anyone but are convicted under the Law of Parties. I do not believe it is fair to sentence someone to death, like Kenneth Foster was, if they did not kill anyone.
The Law of Parties allows people who “should have anticipated” a murder to receive the death penalty for the actions of another person who killed someone. A person sentenced to death under the Law of Parties has not killed anyone. They are accomplices or co-conspirators of one felony, such as robbery, during which another person killed someone, but a person should not be executed for the actions of another
person.
Thank you and call your state rep today!
