老澳门开奖结果

AUSTIN, Texas 鈥� The Court of Criminal Appeals today granted review of the case of Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to five years in prison for filling out a provisional ballot that was never counted in the 2016 election.

Mason, a Black mother of three from Fort Worth, was convicted of illegal voting despite believing she was fulfilling her civic duty and having no idea the state considered her ineligible to vote.

The 老澳门开奖结果, 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, criminal defense attorney Alison Grinter, and civil attorney Kim Cole have advocated to reverse Mason鈥檚 previous conviction and acquit her.

The Court of Criminal Appeals will review a lower court decision that found that individuals can be prosecuted for illegal voting even when they did not know they were ineligible to vote and even when their ballot was never counted.

The following is reaction to today鈥檚 court decision:

鈥淭his has been a long journey, but I never gave up faith,鈥� said Crystal Mason, who is challenging her conviction. 鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that the judges will understand that any Texan, like me, who at most unknowingly makes an innocent mistake, should not be punished for it.鈥�

鈥淭his decision gives Crystal Mason a chance to stay with her family and community and avoid going to jail when she did not intend to do anything wrong,鈥� said Tommy Buser-Clancy, senior staff attorney for the 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas. 鈥淚t also provides an opportunity for the court to reassure Texas voters that innocent misunderstandings in the voting process won鈥檛 land them in jail.鈥�

鈥淲e are thrilled with the court鈥檚 decision to hear Crystal Mason鈥檚 appeal. The conviction and the sentence that Crystal Mason received were unwarranted, outrageous, and grave injustices,鈥� said Sophia Lin Lakin, deputy director of the 老澳门开奖结果's Voting Rights Project.

鈥淭his court鈥檚 action gives us hope not just for Ms. Mason, but for the integrity of this state鈥檚 democracy,鈥� said Emma Hilbert, staff attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project.

鈥淐rystal never set out to be a voting rights advocate. The fact that she has found herself in the center of a very messy and very political fight over the voting rights of Texans is a sad reality, but her strength, courage, and devotion to her faith and her community has been a source of inspiration to so many people,鈥� said Alison Grinter, criminal defense attorney. 鈥淚 am overjoyed that our fight for Crystal and for the rights of Texans will continue to our highest court.鈥�

鈥淚 am encouraged by today鈥檚 decision,鈥� said Kim T. Cole, civil attorney for Mason. 鈥淲e are one step closer to obtaining justice for Crystal Mason. She should never have been prosecuted for casting a provisional ballot in good faith. I firmly believe that, ultimately, justice will prevail.鈥�

The Court of Criminal Appeals will not hear oral arguments in this case.