Felony murder rule (Texas)

For the felony murder rule in other jurisdictions, see felony murder rule.

Texas' felony murder rule, known as the law of parties, is a variation on the common law felony murder rule. Codified in Texas Penal Code § 7.02, the law states that a person can be criminally responsible for the actions of another if he or she aids and abets, or conspires with the principal. However, all common law jurisdictions find that an accessory to murder will be criminally responsible. This liability can arise through solicitation, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, or any other doctrine of complicity.

The law of parties is significantly different from the felony murder rule in other jurisdictions and attracts heated debate, particularly when capital punishment is a possible sentence, as under Texas law someone convicted of capital murder under the felony murder rule is as eligible for the death penalty as the one actually committing the murder.

In 2009, the Texas Moratorium Network led an advocacy campaign to pass a bill to end the death penalty for people convicted under the law of parties. The bill was approved by the Texas House of Representatives, but did not pass the Senate.

Convictions under the felony murder rule

See also Lists of people executed in Texas

People convicted under the law include Kenneth Foster, Jeff Wood, Clinton Lee Young, Steven Michael Woods, Jr., Robert Lee Thompson, John Adams, Ray Jasper, and Joseph Nichols., Randy Halprin, and Patrick Murphy Jr.

See also

• Law of Texas
• Capital punishment in Texas
• Texas judicial system
• Common purpose

References

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