Events Calendar

Date:
November 4, 2014
Start:
1:45pm
End:
4:00pm
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Location:
TNH 2.111 (Sheffield-Massey Room)
Event type:
Panel Discussion / Speaker Series

Clinical Professor Bill Allison and Patricia Cummings will present An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story.

In 1986, Christine Morton was brutally murdered in her own home by Mark Allen Norwood who apparently came through the wooded area behind her and her husband Michael’s home in a part of North Austin which lies in Williamson County. Her 3 year old was in the house at the time but was not injured. Williamson County Sheriff Jim Boutwell arrived in the early afternoon of August 12, 1986 and immediately focused his attention on Christine’s husband, Michael Morton.

This is the story of that murder and its terrible outcome for Michael Morton who spend the next twenty-five years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In this true story, Michael Morton was exonerated on October 3, 2011. His post-conviction lawyers then began an unprecedented examination of the people involved in the case and particularly the district attorney who prosecuted him in 1987. That examination of the key players using every bit of evidence including exculpatory evidence withheld from the original trial team (Bill Allison and Bill White) and new DNA evidence identifying Mark Allen Norwood as the real killer. The final chapter in this saga was the indictment of Judge Ken Anderson for, among others, felony contempt of court, his resignation from the bench and his finally pleading to the felony charge and losing his license to practice law as a consequence of his conviction. No sitting Texas judge or former prosecutor has been removed from office and dis-barred for his behavior inside a criminal case.

Documentary will start at 2:00 pm and Q&A will follow at 3:30 pm. Tiff's Treats will be served!

Specific audiences:
  • Texas Law students
  • Texas Law alumni
  • Faculty
  • Staff
Sponsored by:
  • Criminal Defense Clinic

If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the sponsor listed above or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event.