Judge Brandon Birmingham

Detective Leavelle Knew Why Jack Ruby Killed Lee Harvey Oswald Because Ruby Told Him

Jim Leavelle survived Pearl Harbor, testified in the “Trial of the Century,” retired a legendary detective, and attained the age of 99. While researching “The Assassin’s Assassin,” the tall man in the light suit wearing the Stetson hat in Bob Jackson’s famous, Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph told me all about his experience with Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald. Today, in his honor, I’ll share that with you.

**Top Row**: Brandon Birmingham, Walton Bondies, Phil Burleson, Jr., Margaret Bowie Hirschman, John Mark Dempsey, Gina Causey Hibbs, Toby Shook, Kim Wade.
**Bottom Row**: Alicia Alexander, Bob Huffaker, Jim Leavelle, Waymon Rose, David Rose.

Judge, Why Are You So Interested In The Jack Ruby Case?

His case file looked like all the others in the storage facility for the DA’s Office in Dallas: a collection of a dozen or so dusty brown and white banker boxes. The difference? The name written on the outside: Jack Ruby. Read More

$50 Years Ago Today, Tex Watson’s Killing Spree Began$

50 Years Ago Today, Tex Watson’s Killing Spree Began

He was tall, handsome, and raised in a religious house. As a youth he worked in his father’s grocery store. He was a star athlete at Farmersville high school in Denton, a Texas state record holder in the hurdles. He pledged Pi Kappa Alpha at UNT. And if he hadn’t hitchhiked down Sunset Blvd. in the summer of 1968, he might never have met Charlie Manson. His name is Charles “Tex” Watson, and 50 years ago today, he began a mission of murder called “Helter Skelter.”

5 Necessary Components of any Bail Reform measure

An Open Letter to the 2021 Texas Legislature

I watched the 2019 legislature with great hope, convinced that the bipartisan call for meaningful bail reform in Texas would finally be answered. Ultimately, however, it was not. As such, I offer this open letter to 2021 lawmakers addressing why we need bail reform, and how to do it.

Discussing potential changes to the pretrial system at the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court in 2017.

Abuse of a Corpse in Texas

James Scandirito Senior, 74, was reported missing on April 1st, 2018. His son, James Scandirito Junior, said that he last saw his father the previous night. It turns out that Junior actually dismembered his father and hid his body. Was it murder or panic? Read More

The Defense of Insanity in Texas

In South Carolina, Timothy Jones Jr. was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his 5 children, ranging in age from 1 to 8. He plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Let’s discuss this case and the insanity defense in Texas. Read More