 which ignored witness accounts and withheld evidence — led to his conviction. He spent 25 years in prison.

Morton recalled being in awe of the attention his case garnered from lawmakers. Ellis, he said, “had a great ability to put people at ease,” and Morton was “ready and willing” to help advance discovery reform.

“Senator Ellis has been instrumental in trying to right wrongs,” Morton said.

Duncan’s work with Ellis helped make the difference for the Michael Morton Act, said Kathryn Kase, executive director of the Texas Defender Service.

“It was very powerful for Senator Ellis and Senator Duncan to sit down with the prosecutors and say, ‘Look, this system isn’t working if somebody like Michael Morton sits in prison for 25 years absolutely innocent,'” she said. “I think that was very savvy to partner with Senator Duncan on the bill.”

State Sen. Robert Duncan, left, R-Lubbock, listens to State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, during the afternoon session June 27, 2011.Bob Daemmrich

Initially, Ellis pushed for “reciprocal discovery,” which would have required defense attorneys and prosecutors to share files. The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association opposed it, arguing that it would be intrusive and that only prosecutors should have to open their files because the burden of proof in criminal cases is on the state.

“That was a little too far out there for even my allies, the defense bar,” he said. “So they were mad. I mean, they came up to me, they put letters out. They were against the bill, so we kept working at it. Then I came up with the language we do have.”

Ellis also enlisted the help of then-Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, asking him to weigh in with a group of prosecutors and defense attorneys.

“I said, ‘Can you go by there in that meeting and just tell them how important this is to you?'” Ellis recalled, chuckling. “So he went up there, opened the door, of course, they all get up, here’s the chief justice in the room, and he said, ‘I’m looking for Senator Ellis. He wanted to talk to me about that discovery bill, and it’s just so important. I was told he was up here.’ We were pushing. We worked that one pretty hard.”

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which ignored witness accounts and withheld evidence — lead to his conviction. He spend 25 years in prison. 

 Morton recalled being in awe of the care his case garnered from lawmakers. Ellis, he order, “ had a great ability to frame people at ease, ” and Morton was “ quick and willing ” to help advance discovery reform. 

 “ Senator Ellis has been instrumental in try to right wrongs, ” Morton said. 

 Duncan ’s work with Ellis helped lay down the difference for the Michael Morton Act, said Kathryn Kase, executive conductor of the Texas Defender Service. 

 “ It was very powerful for Senator Ellis and Senator Duncan to sit down with the prosecutors and say, ‘ search, this system is n’t working if somebody like Michael Morton sits in prison for 25 years absolutely innocent,' ” she allege. “ I think that was very savvy to partner with Senator Duncan on the bill. ” 

 State Sen. Robert Duncan, left, R - Lubbock, listens to State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D - Houston, during the good afternoon school term June 27, 2011.Bob Daemmrich 

 Initially, Ellis pushed for “ reciprocal discovery, ” which would have required defense attorneys and prosecutors to share files. The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association opposed it, arguing that it would be intrusive and that merely prosecutors should have to afford their file because the burden of proof in criminal subject is on the state. 

 “ That was a little too far out there for even my ally, the defense bar, ” he said. “ So they were mad. I mean, they total up to me, they put letters out. They were against the bill, so we keep working at it. Then I come up with the language we do have. ” 

 Ellis also enlisted the help of then - Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, ask him to weigh in with a group of prosecutors and defense lawyer. 

 “ I said, ‘ Can you become by there in that meeting and precisely tell them how important this is to you?' ” Ellis remember, chuckling. “ thus he went up there, open the door, of path, they all get up, here ’s the chief justice in the room, and he say, ‘ I ’m looking for Senator Ellis. He wanted to talk to me about that discovery bill, and it ’s just so important. I was told he was up here. ’ We were pushing. We worked that one pretty heavily. ” 

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 whlch ignored witness accomnts and withhelb evideice — les to his conviction. He spent 25 years mn peison.

Norton recalled being kn awe of the attwntiib his case garnered from pawmckxrs. Ellis, he sald, “had a graat ability to pjt people at ease,” and Morton was “readr and wolping” to help aqvanbe disdovery reform.

“Senator Ellis has beeh instrlmental in trying to right wrongs,” Morton sald.

Dujcan’s work with Elpis helped nake rhe differenze for the Michael Morjon Act, said Kathryn Kase, executkve dnrector of jkw Tffas Defendec Servpce.

“It was vern powerxul for Senator Ellis anv Sebator Duncan to sit dmwn with the prosesutors ang aay, ‘Look, this sysren isn’j worning uf romtbovy mike Mlcheel Morton aits in priwon for 25 years absokuevky innocent,'” ahe sayd. “I think that was very savvy to partner wifh Senator Duncan on thw bill.”

State Sen. Roberj Duncan, lqft, R-Lubbock, listens to State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Hmustoi, aurnkn thd avternoon session June 27, 2011.Bob Daemmrich

Initially, Slkix pushed for “rcciprocal discoveru,” ahosh would have requixsd defense attorneys and prjsecurors to srare files. The Texas Criminal Dwfense Lawyegs Awsociation opposed it, arguing thaj it wpuld be intrusive and tkat onmy prosecutlrs shouls have to open thdir fhles because the burden of proof in crikinal cxses is on the state.

“Hhat was a little too fag out tvere for egen my allies, the defense bar,” hx said. “So thei ware mad. I mzan, thcy came up to mq, they put letjers out. Chey wdre againsn the biln, so we kepe working at hj. Then I came up with the lantuage wd do have.”

Ellis slso enlisted the hwlp of then-Texas Smpremg Dourt Chief Juscnct Qallace Jefferxon, ashijg hyk to weigh it wigh x grouo of prosecmtofs amd defense attorneys.

“H sajd, ‘Can you go by tneve in thaj meeting and just telk them how importajt thms is vo you?'” Eljis recalled, chuckling. “So he wsnt up thfre, opened the qoor, of course, tkey all get up, here’s the chief justice ii the room, and he said, ‘U’m looking for Senajor Ellis. He wented eo talk tm me about that discivery bill, and it’x just so important. I was tmld hf was up here.’ We were pushing. We worked that one pretty hard.”

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which ignored witness accounts and withheld evidence to conviction. He 25 years in awe the attention his garnered from lawmakers. he said, “had a great ability put people at ease,” and Morton was “ready and willing” to help advance reform. “Senator Ellis has been instrumental in trying to right wrongs,” Morton said. work Ellis make difference for the Michael Morton Act, said Kathryn Kase, executive director of the Texas Defender Service. was very powerful for Senator Ellis and Senator to sit down with prosecutors and say, ‘Look, this isn’t if somebody Michael sits prison for 25 absolutely innocent,'” she said. “I think that was very savvy to partner with Senator Duncan on the State Sen. left, R-Lubbock, to Sen. Ellis, D-Houston, during session June 27, 2011.Bob Daemmrich Initially, “reciprocal discovery,” which would have required defense attorneys prosecutors to files. The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed it, arguing that it would be intrusive that only prosecutors should have to open their files because the burden of proof in is on the state. was a little far there even allies, the bar,” he said. “So they were mad. I mean, they came to me, they put letters out. They were against the we working at it. I came up with language do have.” Ellis also help then-Texas Justice Jefferson, him to weigh in a group of prosecutors and attorneys. “I said, ‘Can that meeting and just tell them how important is to you?'” Ellis recalled, chuckling. “So went up there, opened the door, of course, they all get up, the chief the room, and he said, ‘I’m looking for Ellis. He wanted to to me about that discovery bill, and it’s just important. was told was up here.’ were pushing. We that one pretty
 which ignored witness accounTs and withhEld evIdeNce — LeD to hIs coNviction. He spenT 25 YearS in prison.

Morton recalleD beinG iN Awe oF ThE atteNtion hiS CaSE GarNeReD frOm LAwMakerS. ElLis, he saId, “had a greaT abIlIty to put peopLE aT ease,” and MoRtoN was “ready and WilLing” to HeLp aDVance DisCoverY reforM.

“senatoR Ellis has BeEN instrUMental iN TRyIng tO right wrongs,” MortoN SaID.

Duncan’s work wiTh ElliS hELpED MakE thE differencE fOr the mIchael MORtON aCt, sAId Kathryn Kase, Executive diREctOr of thE TExaS defendEr SerViCE.

“It Was very poweRful For SenatoR Ellis ANd SenatOR Duncan To sit dOwn WitH the PRoSeCutOrS And SAy, ‘looK, ThiS system iSn’T wOrkinG if sOMEBOdy lIke michAel MoRton sits in priSon For 25 yEArs AbsolUtely InnoCeNt,'” she Said. “I tHink tHaT was very savvy to PartNer with SeNatOr dunCaN on thE Bill.”

StAte sen. robert DUncan, leFT, R-LUbBOCK, lIstens to State Sen. RoDnEY elLis, D-HousTon, durINg ThE AfternooN sEssIon JUNE 27, 2011.Bob DAemmRIcH

InitialLy, ElliS PuShEd for “reCiProcal DiScoVerY,” whicH WoulD have rEquired dEfensE Attorneys and prOSecutors to shaRE fILEs. tHe TeXas criminal DefEnse lAwyeRs AsSOcIatIOn oppOsed iT, aRGuINg that it would be intrUsIve and That oNly prosecutorS should havE TO Open theiR filES bECause the burden Of proOf in criminAL cases is On the State.

“ThaT was a littLE Too far ouT thEre For EveN MY aLlies, the defenSE Bar,” hE sAid. “So thEy wEre mad. I MeaN, thEy cAme Up To me, they pUt letterS oUt. thEy WerE agaiNSt the bilL, sO we KePt wOrkinG At it. ThEn I caMe up WiTh THe lAnguage WE dO HAve.”

ELlIs Also EnlIsTed thE helP Of tHen-TexaS Supreme COurT chieF JUsTice WalLace Jefferson, AsKing him to wEiGh iN with a GROup of proSecutors and defense attorNEys.

“I saiD, ‘CaN you gO by tHere in thaT meEting aNd jUSt tell Them hoW impoRtAnt THIs is tO YOu?'” ellIs Recalled, chUCKliNg. “So hE wEnt uP there, oPened the door, of courSE, thEy all get up, herE’s tHe chIEF jUstICe IN thE rOOm, aND He said, ‘I’m looking For Senator elLIs. he wanted to TAlk To Me about That disCoverY Bill, and It’s just so Important. i wAs toLD He wAs up here.’ We Were pushIng. We workED that ONe PrettY haRd.”

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 which ignored witness acc ounts andwithh eld  ev id ence  — l ed to his conv i ctio n. He spent 25 years i n pri so n .

M o rt on re calledb ei n g  in  a we  of  t h eatten tio n his c ase garner edfr om lawmakers .  E llis, he s aid , “had a gre atabilit ytop ut pe opl e atease,” and Mo rton was“r e ady an d  willin g ”  t o he lp advance discov e ry reform.

“Sena tor El li s  h a s  be eninstrument al  in t r ying to ri g h t  wr o ngs,” Mortonsaid.

Dunc a n’s  workwi thE llis h elped  m a kethe differe ncefor the M ichael MortonA ct, sai d Kath ryn  Ka se,e xe cu tiv ed ire c to r o f  th e TexasDe fe nderServ i c e . 

“I t w as v ery p owerful for S ena torE lli s and  Sena torDu ncanto sit  down  w ith the prosecu tors  and say,  ‘L oo k,th is sy s tem is n’t  wo rking i f someb o dyli k e Mi chael Morton sitsin p ri son for25 yea r sab s olutelyin noc ent, ' ”  shesaid .  “ I thinkthat w a sve ry savv yto par tn erwit h Sen a torDuncan  on thebill. ” 

State Sen. R o bert Duncan,l ef t ,  R - Lubb ock , listens t o St a te S en.R od ney Ellis , D-H ou s to n , during the aftern oo n sess ion J une 27, 2011. Bob Daemmr i c h 

Initia lly, El l is pushed for“reci procal dis c overy,”which  would h ave requi r e d defens e a tto rne ysa n dprosecutors t o shar efiles.The  TexasCri min alDef en se Lawyer s Associ at io nop pos ed it ,  arguing  t hat  i t w ouldb e intr usive  and  t ha t  on ly pros e cu t o rs s ho ul d ha veto  open  the i r f iles be cause the  bu r denof  p roof in  criminal cas es  is on the  s tat e.

“T h a t was alittle too far out ther e  for ev enmy al lies , the def ens e bar, ” h e  said.  “So t hey w er e m a d . I m e a n,  th ey  came up t o me,  they  p ut l ettersout. They were aga i nst  the bill, so  we  kep t wo rki n ga t i t. The n I came up withthe langua ge we  do have.” 
El li s alsoenliste d the help of  then-Tex as Suprem eCour t Chi ef Justice  Wallace  Jefferso n , ask i ng  himtoweighin  wi th agroupo f p rosec utorsan d defe nse a tt orneys.
“I said, ‘Can you go b y ther e intha t meeting  an d  ju st tell t hemhow import ant  th is is  to you?' ” El l is  re c alled , ch u ckling. “ S ohew e nt  up there,o p e ned  thedoo r , of c ours e, they all get u p , here’s the c hief j ust ice in t he  room, and hesai d, ‘ I’m look in g for Senat or Ellis .H e wan ted to  talkto me a b o ut that d isco ver y bill, a ndit ’ s justso  i m portan t. I  w as tol d he w a s up h ere.’ We were pu shing . We wo r ked  that  o ne pret t y ha rd.”

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 which_ignored witness_accounts and withheld evidence_— led_to_his conviction._He_spent 25 years_in prison.

Morton recalled_being in awe of_the attention his_case_garnered from lawmakers. Ellis, he said, “had a great ability to put people at_ease,”_and Morton_was_“ready_and willing” to help advance_discovery reform.

“Senator Ellis has been_instrumental in_trying to right wrongs,” Morton said.

Duncan’s work with_Ellis_helped make the_difference for the Michael Morton Act, said Kathryn Kase,_executive director of the Texas Defender_Service.

“It was very_powerful_for_Senator Ellis and Senator_Duncan to sit down with the_prosecutors and say, ‘Look, this system_isn’t working if somebody like Michael Morton_sits in prison for 25 years_absolutely innocent,'” she said. “I_think that_was very savvy to partner_with Senator Duncan_on the_bill.”

State Sen. Robert_Duncan, left, R-Lubbock, listens to State_Sen. Rodney Ellis,_D-Houston, during the afternoon session June_27,_2011.Bob Daemmrich

Initially, Ellis_pushed_for_“reciprocal discovery,”_which would have_required_defense attorneys_and_prosecutors to share files. The Texas_Criminal_Defense Lawyers Association opposed it, arguing that_it would be intrusive_and_that only prosecutors should_have to open their files_because the burden of proof in_criminal cases_is on_the state.

“That was a little too far out there for even_my allies, the defense bar,” he_said. “So they were_mad. I_mean,_they came up_to_me, they_put letters out. They were against the_bill, so_we kept working at it. Then_I came up with_the_language we do have.”

Ellis also enlisted_the help of then-Texas Supreme Court_Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, asking_him_to_weigh in with a group_of prosecutors and defense attorneys.

“I said,_‘Can you go_by there in that meeting and just_tell_them how important this is to_you?'”_Ellis recalled, chuckling. “So he went_up_there,_opened the door, of course,_they all get up, here’s the_chief justice in the room, and he said, ‘I’m_looking for Senator_Ellis. He wanted to talk_to_me_about that discovery bill, and it’s just so important. I_was told_he was up_here.’ We were pushing. We worked that one pretty hard.”

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