The Texas House of Representatives has passed House Bill 2267, “The Kenneth Foster, Jr Act”. Sponsored by Rep. Terri Hodge (D – Dallas), the bill would eliminate the death penalty as a sentencing option under the controversial Texas Law of Parties. It would also require separate trials of co-defendants in capital cases. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Please call Texas State Senators and Urge Them to Vote for HB 2267
If you live in Texas, click here to find out who your state senator is.
Click here for a list of all Texas senators.
After you have first called your own state senator, move on to calling the members of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice (Listed below).
After you call the committee members, just start calling any or all of the other state senators from this list.
Sample Message (change it to your own words) “Hello, I am calling to urge Senator X to vote in favor of HB 2267, the “Kenneth Foster, Jr Act”. It has already been approved by the Texas House of Representatives. 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 senator today!
Members of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Chair, John Whitmire
Phone: (512) 463-0115
Email Form
Vice-Chair, Kel Seliger
Phone:(512)463-0131
Email Form
John Carona
Phone:(512) 463-0116
Email Form
Rodney Ellis
Phone:(512) 463-0113
Email Form
Glenn Hegar
Phone: (512) 463-0118
Email Form
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Phone: (512) 463-0120
Email Form
Dan Patrick
Phone:(512) 463-0107
Email Form
