Not just over the border either, but to Nebraska of all places. A week ago I knew absolutely nothing about Nebraska law, not that I know very much more than that now, but I certainly have been immersed in it the last several days. While I am never surprised these days at what we might be doing or whom we are doing it for, I wouldn't have bet on the Cornhusker State to have anything to do with this past week's work. Enter Suzanne and Stephen Frausto - Stephen, a fellow Texan (Pflugerville) who got caught up in the tiny South West Nebraska town of Imperial - the county seat of Chase County Nebraska (with a rush hour terrifying population of 2,071 in the 2010 census, but expected to grow to 2,091 by 2015) and his sister and biggest supporter Suzanne who contacted us for help.
Unfortunately there were several problem with Mr. Frausto's trial predominantly ineffective assistance of council , but also interestingly an all white jury. Although Imperial Nebraska according to a couple of demographic sites we checked is approximately 19% Hispanic, there were none on Stephen's jury. We know that his own attorney used two peremptory strikes on a third of them as they had six to pick from in the original pool which seemed strange to Stephen who had asked to keep them, and even stranger to me.... There currently is no law which says that it is required to have a jury reflective of the community which it is representing, but the winds of change are blowing.
Texas is on the way to the rescue though, our friend attorney Clay Thomas is on this case and we will keep you posted. Be in prayer for the Frausto family and should you like to contact the family with support, simply use the contact form on this website, or you can certainly send it to me personally at [email protected] and I will make sure they get the message.
UPDATE! New GOFUNDME site set up by the family. Click the button to go to the crowfunding site.
Texas is on the way to the rescue though, our friend attorney Clay Thomas is on this case and we will keep you posted. Be in prayer for the Frausto family and should you like to contact the family with support, simply use the contact form on this website, or you can certainly send it to me personally at [email protected] and I will make sure they get the message.
UPDATE! New GOFUNDME site set up by the family. Click the button to go to the crowfunding site.