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Texas Court Overturns Death Sentence for Incompetent Man After 50 Years

4/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the death sentence of Clarence Curtis Jordan, who is 70 years old and has intellectual disabilities, after nearly 50 years on death row.
Jordan was convicted in 1978 for the murder of Joe L. Williams and was deemed "incompetent" for execution due to his mental condition.
Attorney Ben Wolff filed a petition in 2025, highlighting failures in the Texas criminal justice system.
The court's ruling allows for a new punishment proceeding, with the Harris County District Attorney's office acknowledging the ruling's impact on Williams' family.

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Story summary

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the death sentence of Clarence Curtis Jordan, who is 70 years old and has intellectual disabilities, after nearly 50 years on death row.
Jordan was convicted in 1978 for the murder of Joe L. Williams and was deemed "incompetent" for execution due to his mental condition.
Attorney Ben Wolff filed a petition in 2025, highlighting failures in the Texas criminal justice system.
The court's ruling allows for a new punishment proceeding, with the Harris County District Attorney's office acknowledging the ruling's impact on Williams' family.