The reversal of Clinton Young’s murder conviction in Midland County, Texas, due to prosecutorial misconduct,offers hope to the loved ones of those incarcerated in Texas state prisons. This decision also brings new hope to over 300 individuals who were convicted of criminal charges in Midland County over the past 20 years. It also brings hope to anyone who has a loved one who is currently serving time in prison. Even though he was convicted of capital murder in a second trial in October 2024, Young was sentenced to life in prison and no longer faces the death penalty. This conviction will also be appealed.
Originall in September 2021 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals vacated Young’s conviction and death sentence. The action has significant implications for anyone convicted in Midland County since 2001. It also sets a precedent for those seeking freedom from Texas prisons through the 11.07 writ of habeas corpus process. A process that we believe provides the best chance for freedom from prison.
In the Clinton Young case, a series of legal actions and an investigation into financial records by the Midland County District Attorney uncovered severe misconduct in the county. This misconduct not only affected Young’s prosecution and murder conviction, leading to his Death Row sentence, but also revealed issues in the cases of over 300 other individuals convicted in Midland County since 2001. This man had been on Texas Death row for 20 years after being convicted at the age of 19.
The Midland County District Attorney’s office has notified these individuals about the circumstances surrounding their convictions.
You can read the full text of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals opinion issued on September 22, 2021, here.
There is Always Hope for Freedom
If you or someone you know was convicted in Midland County, we strongly recommend seeking legal counsel to review your case.
Young’s case illustrates that there is always hope for freedom from prison for your loved ones, as this action followed the filing of multiple writs in his case.
September 27, 2023 UPDATE: Former Former Texas Death Row Prisoner Clinton Young Sues Prosecutor for Misconduct
August 19, 2022 UPDATE: Second County Indicts Clinton Young for 2001 Murder after first verdict vacated.
January 21, 2022 UPDATE: Clinton Young is released on $150,000 Bond from the Midland County Jail after his bond was crowdfunded.
October 3, 2024 – Clinton Young spoke at the University of Texas Austin School of Law – The Capital Punishment Clinic/Center “From Execution Date to Release Date: The Story of Clinton Young”
The Center organized the event to allow Young to provide insight into the life of someone wrongfully convicted. Organizers also wanted to highlight the crucial role lawyers play in fighting for justice. The law school has long been committed to educating students about capital punishment. https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2024/10/03/79176/
October 15, 2024 – UPDATE: Former death row inmate, Clinton Young, 41, is convicted of capital murder in Midland County and sentenced to life in prison in a new trial.
Clinton Young convicted of Capital Murder after retrial in Midland
Young continues to maintain his innocence and his conviction now moves on to appeal.
Midland County Misconduct
In the Clinton Young case, a series of legal actions, along with an investigation into financial records by the Midland County District Attorney, revealed a serious problem. Attorneys made 5 attempts to free Young using the 11.07 writ of habeas corpus. The fifth attempt was successful as it uncovered a glaring problem with his prosecution.
The problem was that there were problems of misconduct not only with Young’s prosecution and murder conviction that resulted in him being on Death Row but his case spurred an investigation which also revealed problems in cases of over 300 other individuals who were convicted in Midland County since 2001.
Those people who have been convicted have been notified by the Midland County District Attorneys’ office of the circumstances surrounding their convictions. Some of them have already died, we believe there are a number of impacted individuals who don’t want to take any action as they want to put their criminal past behind them.
The full text of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals opinion issued on September 22, 2021, is here.
If you are a person who had been convicted in Midland County since 2001 or know of anyone who was affected we do suggest that you seek legal counsel to review your case.
In Young’s case, this shows that there is always hope for freedom from prison for your loved one as this action came after a number of writs were filed in his case.
Learn More About the Clinton Young Case and Seeking Freedom from Prison
Texas Board of Legal Specialization Criminal Law and Criminal Appeal certified attorney Jacob Blizzard, whose team works on 11.07 writs of habeas corpus on a daily basis, says the Young case provides hope for anyone who incarcerated in a Texas Prison. This writ is a post-conviction remedy that allows prisoners to challenge the legality of their detention. Here are the key reasons why an 11.07 writ of habeas corpus is used to seek freedom from prison: Constitutional Violations, New Evidence, Changes in the Law, Jurisdictional Issues, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Procedural Errors, and Unlawful Sentences. Here he dives into the Young Case:
The Clinton Young Case Part 1 – A Winning Writ Could Mean a Win for You
The Clinton Young Case Part 2 – Five Attempts to Win Freedom, then SUCCESS
The Clinton Young Case Part 3 – Grounds to Use in an 11.07 Writ of Habeas Corpus
If you have any questions please join and post in our Facebook Group: Winning Freedom for the Incarcerated – Texas. Here attorneys and loved ones of the imprisoned discuss appeals and the post conviction writ process used to free loved ones from incarceration:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/winning.freedom.for.incarcerated/
Download our free Post-Conviction Writ Guide – “Winning Freedom from Prison: 5 Critical Things to Know to Pursue Overturning a Conviction or Sentence” at:
https://www.bzfreedomfromprison.com/
Are you developing an 11.07 writ of habeas corpus for your loved one? Whether you’re working with an attorney or you’re doing the writ process on your own, check out both the Facebook Group and our YouTube channel with more informational videos at, https://www.youtube.com/c/WinningFreedomfortheIncarceratedInTexas and if you have any questions send me an email at appeal@blizzardlawfirm.com.
Check out our do-it-yourself online course: Winning Freedom From Prison where you learn how to work to free your loved one from prison through the 11.07 writ of habeas corpus process. at https://blizzardlawfirm.com/ultimate-online-guide-writ-of-habeas-corpus-texasfreedom-from-texas-prison-online-course/.
This course is a comprehensive guide to the legal writ of habeas corpus to seek freedom for your loved one in Texas.
Resources-
Clinton Young Foundation – Facebook Group
Clinton Young Foundation – Website
He Was Nearly Executed 4 Years Ago. Now A Texas Appeals Court Has Tossed His Conviction. – Huffington Post
Court of Criminal Appeals tosses murder conviction of Clinton Young – KOSA TV TV-Midland
Former death row inmate released on $150,000 bond following crowdfunding efforts: ‘It’s not a win until my feet touch grass’ – Insider.com
Former Texas Death Row Prisoner Clinton Young Sues Prosecutor for Misconduct – CBS 7 TV-Midland
Death Penalty Information Center – Facebook Group
AG’s office retaliation, bond concerns at pre-trial hearing in murder case – The Marshall News Messenger
Moonlighting Texas Prosecutor Sued – Texas Observer
The Garrison Project – The Garrison Project addresses the crisis of mass incarceration, policing, and criminalization through investigative reporting and analysis.
About The Attorney
Jacob Blizzard is board certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law.
He regularly practices in the areas of state and federal criminal defense, criminal appeals, post conviction writs of habeas corpus.
In Texas, there are more than 100,000 attorneys licensed to practice, but only 7,450 are board certified. In the entire State of Texas, as of the 2019 certification year, there were only 87 attorneys board certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law, making Mr. Blizzard one of 0.087% of attorneys in Texas to hold both of those certifications.
