Appeals court orders new trial for man on Texas' death row over judge's antisemitic bias
IRVING – One of the suspects convicted in the murder of an Irving police officer nearly 24 years ago will be granted a new trial after a ruling Wednesday from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
In court documents, Randy Halprin and his attorneys argued the trial judge, Dallas County Judge Vickers Cunningham, used antisemitic language and racial slurs in referring to the suspects known as the Texas 7.
In December 2020, Halprin and six others escaped from a South Texas prison. They were convicted of shooting and killing Officer Aubrey Hawkins outside an Oshman's Sporting Goods Store on Christmas Eve that year.
In a 6-3 decision, the appeals court found there was evidence that Cunningham violated Halprin's due process and that there was "such a high degree of antagonism as to make fair judgment impossible."
Irving Police Chief Derick Miller released a statement Wednesday evening about the court's ruling.
"It is indeed unfortunate that Aubrey Hawkins' family, our officers, our department, and our city will have to endure the reopening of old wounds and relive the horrors of what transpired," Miller said. "Waiting almost 24 years for justice has already been a long and difficulty journey, and it appears we must now prepare to wait a big longer."
The Dallas County district attorney's office said it had no comment on the decision. There was no immediate word when a new trial might be scheduled for the nearly two-and-half decades-old case.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice for Aubrey Hawkins and his loved ones," Chief Miller said, "and we hope that the legal process will ultimately lead to a resolution that honors his memory and the sacrifices made by all involved."
