Texas Lawyer, Winless In Death Row Cases, Retires From Capital Cases

Some death penalty opponents call Houston attorney Jerry Guerinot, 71, who recently announced that he will no longer take capital cases, the worst lawyer in the United States. He says he simply got “the sorriest of the worst or the very worst” cases during his 40 years of defending people accused of capital murder. He retires with a perfect record. None of his clients were found innocent. Twenty-one received the death penalty and 10 have been executed. Guerinot’s office is in Harris County, which has sent more people to death row than any other U.S. county and all but two states since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. He believes he got numerous appointments over the years because of his capital case experience and his frequent presence at the courthouse.