Via Houston Chronicle:

A Houston judge who declared the death penalty unconstitutional Thursday clarified his ruling in an impromptu hearing Friday, saying he ruled the procedures surrounding the process in Texas are illegal. ...Fine maintained at the hearing that he believes innocent people have been executed.

Fine's clarification came in the wake of a firestorm of criticism from District Attorney Pat Lykos, the Texas Attorney General's Office and Gov. Rick Perry protesting that Fine ignored well-settled law.

When asked direct questions Thursday about his ruling, Fine said he was declaring the death penalty unconstitutional because he believes innocent people have been executed.

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