"You heard from Dr. Quijano, who had a lot of experience in the Texas Department of Corrections, who told you that there was a probability that the man would commit future acts of violence."
(In Texas, the jury must first unanimously agree that the defendant poses a "continuing threat to society" in order for a death sentence to be imposed.
Sonia Sotomayor described Buck's death sentence as "marred by racial overtones" that "our criminal justice system should not tolerate."
[1] On August 20, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected hearing the question of race being allowed as a deciding factor for executing the guilty.
[7] The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari and, on October 5, 2016, heard oral argument as to whether the Fifth Circuit imposed an improper and unduly burdensome Certificate of Appealability standard.