Hank Skinner is set to be executed by the State of Texas for a crime he may not have committed. Skinner has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and Texas is refusing to conduct DNA tests that may prove his innocence.

Skinner was found guilty of the 1993 murder of his girlfriend and her two adult sons, and is scheduled to be executed on March 24th. In his original trial, Skinner was represented by a former district attorney who had previously prosecuted him for theft and assault. He was convicted primarily on the basis of testimony from his ex-girlfriend, which she recanted in 1997, and on circumstantial evidence. Skinner has vigorously maintained his innocence. To date, the State of Texas has refused to test or release all of the DNA evidence that was collected from the crime scene – including fingernails, a rape kit, knives, a towel, and a windbreaker – that could possibly exonerate Skinner.

Former Texas district attorney Sam Millsap published an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle lambasting Texas authorities for refusing to grant post-conviction DNA testing. He starts the op-ed by recounting another case in which DNA testing came too late:

Last week, Gov. Rick Perry granted the state’s first posthumous pardon to a man who was innocent of a crime for which he had spent 13 years in prison. DNA testing cleared Tim Cole of a rape he did not commit, but unfortunately it came too late — nine years after he had died in prison. The state must do everything it can to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again.

…

I’m not an advocate for Hank Skinner. I’m an advocate for the truth. If DNA tests could remove the uncertainty about Skinner’s guilt — one way or the other — there’s not a good reason in the world not to do it.

Attorney Millsap explains persuasively why he no longer supports the death penalty:

Since 1973, 139 people in 26 states have been released from death row based on evidence of their innocence. Eleven of them were in Texas. Many of these people were freed because of DNA evidence. But DNA testing works only if we use it.

Skinner’s execution date is just a few days away, but key pieces of evidence have never been tested, including two knives, one of which might be the murder weapon; a man’s windbreaker, which had blood, sweat and hair on it and was found next to the victim’s body; the victim’s fingernails, which may have DNA evidence under them; and samples from a rape kit.

Skinner’s last hope is now with the Supreme Court:

Attorneys for Skinner have filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the court to stop Skinner’s execution in order to decide whether prisoners can use the Civil Rights Act to compel post-conviction DNA testing. That’s Skinner’s last chance, and I hope the court intervenes. But frankly, I’d rather see Texas clean up its own house on this one. Before we send a man to his death, shouldn’t we do everything in our power to be certain of his guilt?

Now is the time for all the Jewish organizations that mobilized to save the life of Martin Grossman RIP to raise their voices to stop this impending execution. The words of Israeli Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who intervened on behalf of Grossman, resonate in this case even louder:

It has come to my attention that new evidence has surfaced and changes in the law have taken place that merit the consideration of clemency… Biblical tradition also emphasizes that justice must be tempered with mercy, and justice must be scrupulously administered to avoid any possible miscarriage. This is particularly true in the case of capital punishment.

Please join the people and the organizations mobilizing to stop this execution. To learn more about this case and take steps to apply pressure to prevent Texas from committing this travesty – click here.

May the SCOTUS justices act according to basic standards of justice and decency and issue an order to stop this execution.