Willie Pondexter is scheduled to be executed in Texas on March 3 despite a civil suit filed by his attorneys alleging interference by the state in the attorneys’ investigation into Pondexter’s model behavior and rehabilitation during 14 years on death row. In Texas, the key factor in determining whether a defendant is sentenced to life or death is whether he represents a future danger to society. Pondexter’s attorneys from the Texas Defender Service had received information that correctional officers from death row were willing to formally attest to Pondexter’s excellent record and the attorneys sent representatives to obtain statements. Those representatives were detained by the local sheriff’s office and told not to return to death row. The suit claims that Texas prison officials interfered with the work necessary to prepare a clemency petition for Pondexter. He is seeking a stay of his execution date.

(“Court rejects inmate’s request to delay execution,” Houston Chronicle, Feb. 26, 2009). See Clemency.