Calvin Joseph Williams, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas affirmed the capital murder conviction and death sentence of Calvin Joseph Williams, holding that his confession was voluntary despite the delay in presenting him to a magistrate, that the exclusion of jurors Gill and Dunn was proper under Witherspoon, and that Article 37.071 does not violate Furman. The majority found no causal link between the alleged abuse and the confession, and upheld the jury's discretion in sentencing. Justice Teague dissented, arguing that Article 15.17 requires prompt magistrate presentation and that the conviction should be reversed.