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Kevin Fine
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Kevin Fine was a judge for Texas District 177.[1] He resigned from this position on August 21, 2012.[2]
Noteworthy cases
Judge Fine garnered national attention in 2010 by way of his hearing of a challenge on the constitutionality of the death penalty. A defendant who faced the death penalty if convicted for the murder of a Houston woman, challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty before going to trial, claiming "its application has created a substantial risk that innocent people have been, and will be, convicted and executed."[3] Fine heard the case in a pretrial hearing but was stopped by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The high court's opinion stated "One does not put the cart before the horse: A defendant has no claim of wrongful conviction or wrongful sentencing before he has even gone to trial."[4]
Footnotes
- ↑ 177th District
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Controversial judge Fine to step down," August 21, 2012
- ↑ The Austin American-Statesman, "Court: Houston death penalty challenge must end," January 12, 2011
- ↑ ABA Journal, "Top Texas Court Orders End to Hearing on Constitutionality of Death Penalty," January 13, 2010
