There is a deliberate and vigorous appeals process. Critics such as Moffitt are critical of the state's judicial process in death cases. State officials bristle at the criticism. McCormick says Texas leads the way nationally in providing a lawyer for every death row inmate. He notes that it is the victims of violent crime, not defendants, whose rights are most often ignored.
Officials point out that on average, an inmate spends more than a decade awaiting execution.
The state's highest official, Gov. George W. Bush, favors capital punishment. He has presided over 113 executions since taking office in 1995. In that time, he has commuted 1 death sentence. The governor is sworn to uphold the law. Jay Jacobson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, questions whether the law means it's OK to execute people who killed when they were juveniles or have mental problems.