Constitutional Principles
Andrus v. Texas Amicus Brief of Former U.S. Attorneys
A Texas district court threw out Terence Andrus’s death sentence because his defense attorney essentially failed to mount a defense. However, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals swept aside the “tidal wave of mitigation evidence” the district court found and reinstated the death sentence without any explanation. Now, seven former United States attorneys are urging the Supreme Court to step in and make sure state courts take their responsibility to enforce the right to counsel seriously.
The Constitution Project seeks to safeguard our constitutional rights when the government exercises power in the name of national security and domestic policing, including ensuring our institutions serve as a check on that power.