The Task Force for Justice in the name of Dror Goldberg

Stanley Schneider, Dror's current appellate attorney: Mr. Stanley G. Schneider is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He graduated from St. Mary's University Law School in 1974; He was licensed by the State Bar of Texas in October 1974; He was a member of the Staff Counsel for Inmates Texas Department of Corrections from August 1974 to October 31, 1977; His private practice was established in Houston in 1977. He is now a named partner in the law firm of Schneider & McKinney, P.C., and specializes in State and Federal criminal trials and appeals.

Mr. Schneider is the recipient of several awards, including the following: The State Bar of Texas, Criminal Justice Section, Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year - 1997; and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President's Award - 2000.

Mr. Schneider is also a frequent speaker for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Project on such topics as "Preserving Error in the Criminal Trial", "Mandamus and Extraordinary Remedies in Texas", "Extraneous Offenses", and "Homicide Investigations and Reconstructions."

Some of Mr. Schneider’ clients include the following: Claude Wilkerson, a man who spent seven years on death row convicted of three murders and is now a free man after the suppression of all evidence in the case; Vernon McManus a death row inmate who is now free after reversal of conviction; Johnny Binder, first man in Texas since the 1930's to receive a pardon for innocence after receiving an 18 year sentence for aggravated robbery; Pamela Fielder, first case to recognize Battered Woman Syndrome in Texas as a defense in a murder case; Walter Pink, a lawyer's contempt conviction was reversed by the appellate court; Wanda Holloway, charged with the solicitation of capital murder who has become known as the "Cheerleader Mom"; Patricia and C.W. Smith, United States District Court in Atlanta defense of a "Rico" law suit based upon the action of their son who took custody of his children in violation of a court order and successfully defended Patricia Smith on criminal charges in Texas for interference of child custody, and Chuck Smith, charged with interference with child custody; Larry William Whitsey, the first reversal of a conviction in Texas based upon the improper use of preemptory challenges by a prosecutor; Jack Davis, a man convicted of capital murder in New Braunfels, Texas, whose conviction was reversed because of prosecutorial misconduct and whose trial was impacted by Fred Zain, a serologist, who has been indicted for aggravated perjury in two states; Richard Minns charged with federal passport fraud violations; Ricardo Aldape Guerra was convicted of capital murder and after fifteen years on death row the charges were dismissed because of the suppression of the in-court identification of a number of witnesses that were tainted by police and prosecutorial misconduct; Mark Stennett, prosecution prohibited for possession of marijuana based upon the assessment of drug tax after his arrest; Robert Angleton was acquitted by a jury of capital murder charges after being accused of hiring his brother to kill his wife; Jose Deluna an eighteen year old man was acquitted of capital murder after the successful contest of the eyewitness identification; Ramon Ontiveras accused of sexual assaulting three children was acquitted of sexual assault by a jury; Charles Forshee was acquitted of murder by a jury after a three year old child accused Charles of smothering his two year old little brother.

Dick DeGuerin, Dor's original defense attorney: An Austin native and graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. He has been practicing law since 1965, and is one of the most respected lawyers in Texas. In 1994, the State Bar of Texas voted him “Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer in Texas.” Mr. DeGuerin is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Texas where he teaches criminal law. Mr. DeGuerin notes, “Right now, it’s popular to think two things, if you’re charged, you’re guilty and you ought to go to prison forever. I’ve found that juries need a lot of educating. They just automatically believe…it doesn’t matter what the evidence is, doesn’t matter what rights were violated, the person must be guilty. ‘If they say he’s guilty, he must be guilty’”.

Kelly Siegler/Assistant District Attorney: has worked as a Harris County prosecutor since 1987, Siegler describes her approach as the “good ol’ boy” approach that throws opponents off. She has come to symbolize the aggressive spirit of a powerful county that sends more people to death row than anywhere else. As of 2001, Siegler has tried 14 capital murder cases where the death penalty was on the table, and in 13 of them she secured a room on death row for the defendant. In the capital murder case of Robert Fratta, Siegler said the death penalty was richly deserved because he had everything, looks, charm, money. “He was so smart, he thought he was going to outsmart the world. He was evil.” Demetrius Simms, mentally retarded, was also convicted and sentenced to death after three hung juries, thanks to Siegler. (Houston Chronicle, 12/26/99, Section A Pg 37)

Joan Campbell/Judge: Judge Campbell was elected in 1998, and had been on the bench for less than two years when she heard this high profile case. Judge Campbell practiced criminal defense work for 6 years. She worked as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office for 9 years from 1983 to 1991. Her tenure overlapped with Ms. Siegler’s for 5 years.