AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ A Texas judicial commission has filed proceedings that could remove from office a state judge accused of cutting off appeals for a condemned inmate the night of his execution.
Convicted killer Michael Richard was put to death the evening of Sept. 25, 2007, after Sharon Keller, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals presiding judge, ordered a clerk to close the court’s office promptly at 5 p.m.
Lawyers for Richard requested that the office stay open to permit a late appeal.
Keller has 15 days to respond to five charges in the action filed Thursday by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.