Rodney Reed is Innocent - Free Him Now!
Bastrop County (TX) DA Bryan Goertz

The Innocence Project argued on behalf of Rodney Reed at the US Supreme Court on October 11th, seeking clarity on a matter of technicality that the State of Texas is using to execute a man who can demonstrate his innocence. Reed is seeking an order to allow additional DNA testing based on newly discovered evidence that disproves the states theory in the case, and demonstrates the prosecutorial misconduct that sent an innocent man to death row.
- This article from The Appeal, published October 5, 2022, explores the absurdity of the question before the US Supreme Court.
- This article from The Intercept, published October 9, 2022, provides the most thorough explanation of the case and the moment we are in, and this article summarizes what took place at the hearing.
- Here is the letter from #RodneyReed's counsel to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals explaining why the audiotapes of the hearing are important to the court's review of the case.
On November 15, 2019, the Texas Parole Board denied a recommendation of clemency and at the same time recommended that Governor Abbott grant at 120 day reprieve that Reed's attorneys had requested in order to pursue various new evidence of innocence. A short time later, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay and sent the case back to the trial court. That hearing was held in August, 2021 with closing arguments heard on October 18, 2021. Just weeks later, the judge in Rodney Reed's evidentiary hearing at the trial court level in Bastrop County recommended AGAINST giving Rodney Reed a new and fair trail. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is considering that recommendation and we are still waiting for a decision as to whether or not to grant a new trial, or maintain Reeds conviction and sentence. Hopefully, newly discovered evidence hidden by prosecutors will influence that decision.
Please sign and share this petition - names added now will be held for the next action where citizen engagement may be useful. ALSO, join us in Washington, DC on Oct 11 in front of the US Supreme Court prior to the hearing on Rodney's case!
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Read the Innocence Project's letter to Texas Governor Abbott, here.
The State’s entire case against Rodney Reed has been demolished. The timeline is wrong, all the expert witnesses recanted their testimony, and some of the most respected forensic pathologists in the world concur that the prosecution’s theory is impossible. The State’s case doesn’t make sense because Rodney is innocent.
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To:
Bastrop County (TX) DA Bryan Goertz
From:
[Your Name]
Bastrop County DA Bryan Goertz - You have actively opposed Rodney Reed’s efforts to prove his innocence for years. Please stop opposing Reed's legal efforts to get at the truth. If you really have nothing to hide, then it’s time to get out of the way. We DEMAND:
(1) Do not seek another execution date;
(2) Test ALL the evidence;
(3) Initiate a new, fair trial free of racial bias and false forensics, and without hiding evidence that has finally been turned over.
Rodney Reed should have an opportunity to fully prove his innocence in a courtroom. You have the power to make that happen. Please use it now.