Duty wins Williamson Co. Republican primary
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Williamson County could have its first female District Attorney in history if she wins in November.
The hotly contested Williamson County District Attorney's Republican primary was not about gender, it was about justice. Many legal experts agree John Bradley is to blame for what proved to be a loss for the incumbent.
For six years, Bradley refused to test DNA evidence that would have proven the innocence of Michael Morton.
Back in October 2011, after Morton spent 24 years behind bars, he was released from prison. Investigators say DNA evidence implicated another man for the 1986 murder of Morton's wife.
"If you're so sure that you have the right person, what harm does it do to test the right evidence?" Williamson County Attorney Jana Duty said.
Bradley’s predecessor, Ken Anderson, prosecuted the Morton case in 1987. In the 90s, as an Assistant DA, Bradley defended the state's conviction well before DNA testing became a factor in court. Political experts say that legacy was the Achilles heel of a man now headed out of office. As for Duty, she says now is the time for true public service.
"I've worked hard. I've had a great team who worked hard on this campaign and I want to make the people of Williamson County proud and do a good job," Duty said.
Duty said she wants to make sure there are no more Morton-like cases in Williamson County.
Duty will take on Democrat Ken Crain in the November election. If she wins in November, she plans to review certain death penalty and life-prison cases.
"I would to review some case because I am worried that the Michael Morton case is a one time incident,” Duty said. “I'd like to make sure things are done right on cases where people are spending life or in cases where people are facing the death penalty."