Innocence Project

When Texas Gov. Rick Perry abruptly replaced four members of a state panel investigating flaws in forensic science a few weeks ago, he cast a shadow over one of the most important criminal justice reforms the state has seen in recent years. It's not too late to set things right.

Before Perry interfered, the Texas Forensic Science Commission was deep into an investigation of the arson evidence used to convict Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004 for allegedly setting a fire at his home that killed his three young daughters. Convincing evidence now shows that he was innocent, and serious questions about his guilt had been presented to Perry before he signed off on the execution.

Perry's reshuffling came just 48 hours before a scheduled public hearing where the commission was set to question an arson expert, whose independent evaluation found recently that the evidence used to convict Willingham was deeply flawed. The meeting was cancelled, and the commission now sits in limbo under the leadership of new chairman John Bradley.

Bradley will appear November 10 before a special hearing of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee to answer legislators' questions about the status of the Forensic Science Commission's work and plans for continuing ongoing investigations. A group of more than 400 Texans -- including 15 people exonerated through DNA after spending years in prison for crimes they didn't commit -- sent a letter to Bradley yesterday, urging him to ensure that the commission's work continues.