This joint statement is intended for all faith leaders across the United States, regardless of position on the death penalty.
All faith leaders are asked to sign the statement below concerning the exclusion of a potential juror in the Texas death penalty trial of Christopher Young based on the potential juror’s religious affiliation.
If you believe it is wrong for potential jurors to be discriminated against on the basis of religious affiliation, please endorse this statement by the end-of-day Monday, February 6, 2017. A copy of the letter with your signature will be sent by Chris Young’s legal team to the Governor of Texas, the Texas Attorney General, the Bexar County District Attorney, and the Board of Pardons and Parole. This statement and the list of signatories will be made public and released to the media later this month.
Background: During jury selection in Mr. Young’s trial, a potential juror named Myrtlene Williams was struck from the jury because of her membership at Calvary Baptist Church in San Antonio and her participation in the church’s Outreach Ministries program. According to Ms. Williams, her work with that ministry involved feeding homeless people in San Antonio. Some members also ministered to prisoners, but Ms. Williams was not involved in this part of the program. Mr. Young’s legal team believes that eliminating Ms. Williams because of her religious affiliation offends the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution and has raised a claim in the U.S. Supreme Court that argues this on behalf of Mr. Young.
If you have questions about this case or this letter please contact the Texas Innocence Network at 713-743-8643.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017
PLEASE SIGN IMMEDIATELY AND FORWARD TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS!
Jill Willliamson
If, indeed, she was denied acceptance on the basis of church membership, I find that to be very unAmerican.