Kate Black

As a Reprieve Fellow 2008-2009 at the Texas Defender Services, Kate Black will challenge the use of experts in death penalty trials who purport to be able to predict the "future dangerousness" of a defendant.

These experts are called on by the prosecution to speculate about whether a particular defendant is likely to commit crimes in the future, arguing that it is safer for society for the defendant to be executed than sentenced to life. Jurors typically believe that whether they should impose a death sentence hinges on this issue.

Such evidence is a significant contributor to Texas' high rate of imposition of death sentences, and Kate will challenge it through trial and post-conviction litigation, broader policy advocacy and outreach to professionals in the medical and psychological community.

Kate is due to receive her law degree from the University of Denver. During her studies she interned with the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender and the Gulf Region Advocacy Center, and clerked for a federal judge.