The defense team for John Edward Green Jr. used a novel strategy to argue that their client shouldn’t be executed, claiming that the way that Texas administers the death penalty makes it unconstitutional. Naturally, the prosecution had to respond with its own element of surprise. Rather than offer any evidence that Texas doesn’t have a habit of executing innocent people, on Monday the prosecution opted to “stand mute.” We guess in Texas, the saying goes: If you can’t beat ‘em, “respectfully refuse to participate in the proceedings.” [Statesman via Daily Beast]
