A Texas House panel will hear a formal resolution on April 27th that calls for Judge Sharon Keller's impeachment. Keller is also currently fighting misconduct charges brought by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Keller, the presiding judge of the state's highest criminal court, prompted widespread outrage after she closed the court office promptly at 5pm, denying a death row inmate an emergency appeal. The inmate, Michael Richard, was executed that night, even though the US Supreme Court instituted a temporary moratorium on all executions earlier that day. The Court of Criminal Appeals later granted two stays of execution based on the same arguments Richard's lawyers attempted to present.

State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, has called for her impeachment, and his resolution, HR 480, will get a public hearing later this month.

"It is important that the committee be made aware of the public's desire for impeachment," Mr. Burnam said. "I encourage anyone who wishes to see justice done in this matter to come to room E2.010 in the capitol on Monday afternoon and register 'for' House Resolution 480."

HR 480 calls on the House of Representatives to form a committee to investigate Judge Keller for "gross neglect of duty and willing disregard for human life." If the House finds cause for impeachment, a trial would then be held in the State Senate.

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