Pubdate: Fri, 9 May 2003 Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX) Copyright: 2003 Austin American-Statesman Contact: http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32 Author: April Castro Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas) BILL FILED TO RELEASE TULIA INMATES AUSTIN - The 13 people remaining jailed in connection with the Tulia drug sting would be released from custody under legislation filed Thursday by state Sen. John Whitmire. Dozens of mostly black Tulia residents were arrested in the 1999 bust by a now discredited undercover officer. "It is unconscionable that people are still incarcerated when the only witness against them has been completely discredited and indicted for perjury," Whitmire said. "Justice demands that they be released and reunited with their families." The bill would permit the Swisher County District Court to release the 13 on bond pending final action by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. "It is clear to me that the only reasonable alternative at this point is to release these individuals," Whitmire said. "Allowing them to remain incarcerated any longer will only serve to undermine public confidence in our system of justice." The legislation is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing on Monday. Meanwhile, the judge who conducted evidentiary hearings on the convictions of four men in the drug busts wrote in a court filing that it would be a travesty of justice for the convictions to stand. Retired state District Judge Ron Chapman ruled in March that undercover officer Tom Coleman lacked credibility as a witness and said he would recommend the convictions of 38 people prosecuted be overturned and new trials ordered. Special prosecutor Rod Hobson has said the cases would be dismissed if sent back for new trials. Chapman signed the filing along with state's special prosecutor and defense attorneys. "Everything is in place to set them free, if we can just get them before the judge," Whitmire said. Coleman's testimony to the arrest of 46 people, 39 of whom were black, in July 1999. Civil rights advocates have claimed the busts were racially motivated. Meanwhile, in Washington on Wednesday, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said he will investigate the busts. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., made the announcement to a forum on Capitol Hill and came at the request of three Congressional Black Caucus members - Democratic Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Charles Rangel of New York and Sheila Lee Jackson of Houston. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake