Campaigners erupted in joy on Monday with the news that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had temporarily paused the planned execution of death row inmate Melissa Lucio.
“Just received word the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted a stay of Melissa Lucio’s execution - remanding vital issues back to the trial court and securing justice for Melissa and for Mariah and the entire Lucio family. Praise God!” wrote Jeff Leach, a Republican state representative in Texas, on social media, one of a number of legislators who has gotten behind the bipartisan innocence movement around the case.
