BILL FILED TO RELEASE TULIA INMATES

AUSTIN - The 13 people remaining jailed in connection with the Tulia
drug sting would be released from custody under legislation filed
Thursday by state Sen. John Whitmire.

Dozens of mostly black Tulia residents were arrested in the 1999 bust
by a now discredited undercover officer.

"It is unconscionable that people are still incarcerated when the only
witness against them has been completely discredited and indicted for
perjury," Whitmire said. "Justice demands that they be released and
reunited with their families."

The bill would permit the Swisher County District Court to release the
13 on bond pending final action by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

"It is clear to me that the only reasonable alternative at this point
is to release these individuals," Whitmire said. "Allowing them to
remain incarcerated any longer will only serve to undermine public
confidence in our system of justice."

The legislation is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing on
Monday.

Meanwhile, the judge who conducted evidentiary hearings on the
convictions of four men in the drug busts wrote in a court filing that
it would be a travesty of justice for the convictions to stand.

Retired state District Judge Ron Chapman ruled in March that
undercover officer Tom Coleman lacked credibility as a witness and
said he would recommend the convictions of 38 people prosecuted be
overturned and new trials ordered. Special prosecutor Rod Hobson has
said the cases would be dismissed if sent back for new trials.

Chapman signed the filing along with state's special prosecutor and
defense attorneys.

"Everything is in place to set them free, if we can just get them
before the judge," Whitmire said.

Coleman's testimony to the arrest of 46 people, 39 of whom were black,
in July 1999. Civil rights advocates have claimed the busts were
racially motivated.

Meanwhile, in Washington on Wednesday, the chairman of the House
Judiciary Committee said he will investigate the busts.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., made the announcement to a forum on
Capitol Hill and came at the request of three Congressional Black
Caucus members - Democratic Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Charles
Rangel of New York and Sheila Lee Jackson of Houston.