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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2003)
Pneqttancu, Ge+ttenA • * * OF BRAZOS VALLEY 6A Wednesday, April 23, 2003 neItate THE BATTALliHE BAIT. YOU COULD HAVE AN STD AND NOT KNOW IT! IF YOU'RE SEXUALLY ACTIVE YOU ARE AT RISK - EVEN IF YOU ARE USING CONDOMS. STD Testing - Free & Confidential Call for an appointment with our Registered Nurse 695-9193 205 Brentwood, College Station Justices to consider lawyer performancAir By Anne Gearan THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LIT US PUNCH YOU OUT. H DQBra TO Qam Ott ODOSPOK^QQDOSo POST OAK MALL O 5 love inspirations WASHINGTON — Supreme Court justices could use an appeal from one of Texas’ longest-serving death row inmates to re-examine rules for* evaluating whether a lawyer’s poor performance affects the out come of a trial. Delma Banks claims his orig inal lawyer failed to do all he could to save him from a death sentence, and that prosecutors sat on evidence that undermined the state’s case. The court stepped in to tem porarily spare Delma Banks’ life minutes before his scheduled execution in March, and will now hear his full appeal. The court will hear Banks’ case next fall. The court is already looking at a separate case that could restate similar rules that measure a lawyer’s competence. Both cases address an issue that has troubled at least two Supreme Court members. Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have questioned the quality of some lawyers assigned to represent poor defendants like Banks. Death penalty opponents say such lawyers are often ill-pre- ' pared and may have little experi ence with complex capital cases. Under the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment and previous Supreme Court rulings, every defendant is entitled to an effec tive lawyer. “These very important cases are being tried by some prosecu tors who are cheating and some defense lawyers who are not liv ing up to the Sixth Amendment,” said one of Banks’ new lawyers, George Kendall of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “You have both those ele ments in this case.” Banks claims his original lawyer never told the jury about Banks' family and background that might have persuaded a jury to choose a sentence of life in prison. These very important cases are being tried by some lawfulness of the state’s supp sion of a transcript revealing the state’s key witness unworthy of belief,” Banks'; lawyers wrote. Banks was convicted in of killing Richard Whitehe; prosecuters who are cheating... — George Kendall appellate lawyer for Banks He also claims prosecutors improperly withheld evidence that calls into question testimony of a key witness for the state. The witness later recanted parts of his testimony and hid the fact that another trial witness was a paid informant. “In this capital proceeding, some court should review the FORT W( kmerican A nd chief ext 16-year-old former co-woii{ "ally says he a fast-food restaurant, had no previous convictions; maintains his innocence. Witnesses reported sec Banks with the victim he was shot, and driving thei tim’s car afterw-ard. Proseot say the case against Bank solid, and that time already! run out for Banks to makes more appeals. The case has attraa es would ac etain key e> uror over m las left Ameri or bankruptc On Monda American’s tl aid it would 1 in the compan abor costs by The Tra Jnion joined national media attention ais )ro ^ ess ' ona * group of prominent suppore Former FBI Director Willi Sessions, also a one-timefea al judge in Texas, joined former judges and a prosecii in asking the high court lok the case. Editors Continued from page 1A “It’s all about making this paper as fair and accurate as it can be.” Plans currently in the works on Bunce’s agenda include opening up the opinion page to more mail call, possibly featuring a weekly column from a student leader rotat ing between organizations such the Graduate Student Council, the Memorial Student Center, the Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association, recruiting for The Battalion from every organization, particularly those traditionally under-represented, and imple menting a new position on the news desk with the sole purpose of dealing with diver sity issues and minority affairs. Bunce has not forgotten the February Battalion forum in which students shared concerns and criticisms of The Battalion. People will get that voice they have been crying for, Bunce said. The Battalion wants people writing from diverse backgrounds who will bring with them their own life experiences and perspectives, she says. Following graduation, Bunce plans to attend graduate school for media studies at the University of Missouri or the University of Texas, but not before her August wedding. “I am very committed to the things I do, and being married is just one more sign that I am invested in whatever lies before me,” Bunce said. Before Bunce takes the position. Brown, a junior agriculture journalism major, has his own summer plans for The Battalion. “What I am excited by most of all is meeting student leaders and learning their concerns about The Battalion " Brown said. “In the past, some editors have not gotten to know those they are responsible for writing about, and that is going to change.” Brown began working for The Battalion in Spring 2001 as a sportswriter and has held the positions of assistant sports editor, sports editor, radio producer and executive editor. Brown said his focus this summer will be meeting as many people as possible and mending some of the fences with student leaders. “There will be a once-a-month 'chat and chew’ session where student leaders and stu dents can come and voice concerns,” Brown said. “This will be a good way to all^et know each other.” After a May 2004 graduation, BpAnembers wei hopes to hold his dream job of coven nay and bene Aggie sports for a daily newspaper. Serving as editor of the Aggieland not he Crawford’s first time in theposi as he was also the yearbook editor all Houston high school his senior year. “I hope that the 2003 Aggieland cover not just the University but alsoew going on in Bryan and the surrouK insurance and area,” Crawford said. “Higher quality^ tography is also something that I would! to see in it.” Crawford has worked on the Aggiel staff in the past as a writer, designer: sports section editor. Although he considered double major in journalism. Crawford is a biology planning to attend medical school. Much of the planning for the ye< will be done in the summer, and Crawfori currently pondering a theme for thes Aggieland. Diversity and where A&M is header: the next 20 years is interesting and By Dav THE ASSO n calling f< ncreasing thi he deal will bird big un American’s pi would meet i lion Tuesday. All three week to appro mt were outi mutive pert Lock FORT wo; ing for better Martin Aeronc plant which rr for strike bene About 45( Corp.’s North were approve Association i haven’t yet w association by the union’s prt Pat Lane, p Fort Worth St solidarity of th hires who coul the union will The strike member NATIONAL SI 1 OR AGE www.nationalselfstorage.com Summer Break Special! $ 140.00 • 5 x 10 from May - August • Three free boxes • One free lock, admin fee included Save Time! 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