James Rexford Powell, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court affirmed the conviction and death sentence, holding that the special prosecutor was not disqualified, the venue denial was reasonable, the motor‑home search was valid under the automobile exception, the DNA expert testimony was preserved, the jury was properly instructed not to read media, and the admission of an adjudicated extraneous offense did not violate double jeopardy. Separate dissenting opinions argued that the extraneous evidence should be excluded under collateral estoppel and that the majority’s rule on proof beyond a reasonable doubt is outdated.