Uvalde Trial: Understanding Brady and Michael Morton Laws in Evidence Disputes

The Brady and Michael Morton Laws

• ⚖️ The Brady Law, established in 1963, mandates that prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence to the defense.
• 💡 Exculpatory evidence is defined as anything that tends to negate guilt or reduce punishment.
• 📌 This includes changes in witness credibility or information that could affect a defendant's line of sight.

Texas Law and Affirmative Duty

• 📜 Texas enacted its specific state law regarding exculpatory evidence following the Michael Morton case.
• 🚀 Michael Morton's conviction was overturned in 2011, leading to a law change in 2013.
• 🎯 Under the Michael Morton Act, prosecutors have an affirmative duty to proactively provide this evidence to the defense, rather than waiting for a request.