Even if the governor doesn't agree with everything put forth by the convicted killer's lawyers in their lengthy and (I think) persuasive letter to him, Gov. Rick Perry (pictured) should see that a 30-day reprieve in the Hank Skinner case could really do a lot of good to:1. Confirm the facts of the case or raise very important questions about reasonable doubt. Unlike in the Darlie Routier case, the items being tested here might actually lead to a plausible second suspect -- or clear him. Who knows?
2. Silence critics who think the governor is not a truth-seeker in the Willingham case. That case isn't going away, but as it works through the slow process with the governor's new appointees to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, it would be nice for the governor to prove that he truly is interested in doing everything possible to find the truth in cases where it seems to be in question.
3. Give greater meaning to his pardon of Tim Cole. It's one thing to apologize for past errors; it's another to do everything you can to prevent new ones.
Plus, now that a DNA lab has said it can do the testing free and within 30 days, the governor and the state have absolutely nothing to lose.
Source: Michael Landauer/Editor, Dallas Morning News, March 18, 2010
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