Trial of Texas judge over death-row appeal ends





Lawyers for a Texas judge accused of denying a death-row inmate a late
appeal are asking a judge to find no merit to the misconduct charges.

Judge Sharon Keller's ethics trial ended Thursday with her lawyer saying
Michael Wayne Richard never had a last-minute appeal before his 2007
execution because the convicted killer's legal team simply gave up.

Keller, the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Court Appeals,
left a San Antonio courtroom following closing arguments. She now awaits
the report of a judge who presided over the four-day misconduct hearing.

Prosecutors closed by saying Keller ignored her court's execution-day
rules and should be held accountable.

(source: Associated Press)