Update

Rodney Reed was days away from execution, 5 days in fact, until he was finally given a glimmer of hope. On November 15th, the Court of Criminal Appeals in Texas granted Mr. Reed a stay of execution. What this means is that Rodney will not be executed. Rodney is now 51 years-old and has been on death row since 1998. That's 21 years.

The Court's ruling came just hours after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had also supported halting the execution. Granting the indefinite stay and sending the case back to a trial court is a big win for Rodney and his team. His lawyer said "I have tears streaming down my cheeks" after he learned of the court's ruling.

Although this ruling did not free Rodney from prison, there was still a positive side. Not only is he now safe from execution, but he has been awarded a new trial where he can present his new evidence and bring in his witnesses. Reed's lawyer stated "It is extremely rewarding that we can finally have a chance to fully present his case in court, so it can be determined that he did not commit this crime."

If Reed had not been rescued, and had his execution gone as scheduled, I fully believe that a major protest would of ensued from the event. This case has gained major traction with the media, and many more people who hear about the case believe in his innocence. Had they executed a clearly innocent man, many people would lose what little faith they had left in the justice system. Not to mention the PR nightmare that would be facing the Trump administration and his attorney general.

 I am happy Rodney will finally get his day in court to show his innocence, my only hope is that it is a fair trial free of bias and prejudice.

If you want to know more, please visit www.nytimes.com.