MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN STEP OUT IN COORDINATED BLACK LOOKS FOR NEW YORK STROLL. (PHOTO).
Texas court overturns death sentence of man on death row for nearly 50 years, orders new sentencing hearing
Texas’ highest criminal court has overturned the death sentence of a Harris County man who spent nearly five decades on death row, ordering a new punishment proceeding in the long-running case.
Clarence Curtis Jordan, 70, was convicted in 1978 for the murder of Houston grocer Joe L. Williams, 40. Court records show Jordan was later found to be intellectually disabled and incompetent for execution, but for decades, he lacked consistent legal representation and was effectively left without an attorney for much of his time on death row.
Jordan was assigned new legal counsel in 2024 after officials uncovered a backlog of delayed criminal appeals in Harris County, including cases that had gone unresolved for years. The discovery came amid efforts to clear a growing pile of pending post-conviction cases in the county’s courts.
Following renewed legal review, the state’s highest criminal court vacated Jordan’s death sentence in a ruling issued Thursday and sent the case back to Harris County for resentencing.
Jordan’s attorney said the decision highlights deep flaws in the system, arguing that inmates most in need of legal protection are often the ones most likely to be overlooked. He described the case as a stark example of how long delays can leave defendants without meaningful advocacy.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said the ruling reflects proper legal process while noting that Jordan’s underlying conviction remains in place. Prosecutors also emphasized that the outcome does not diminish the impact on the victim’s family.
Following the decision, the district attorney’s office said it does not intend to seek a new punishment phase. If resentencing moves forward, the only remaining option would be life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Jordan’s legal team said its role is limited to post-conviction representation and that any further proceedings beyond resentencing would require reassignment of counsel.
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