20 April 2010 :

The U.S. Supreme Court rejects Charles Dean Hood's appeal based on sexual relationship between judge and District Attorney. Hood, 41, has been on Texas' death row since his 1990 trial for the murder of 2 people. The Supreme Court today declined to review Hood's case. The decision came in a 1-line order issued without comment. The decision does not change a Feb. 24 (see) ruling from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Court that ordered a new punishment trial for Hood on a legal point unrelated to the once-secret romantic relationship between the trial judge, Verla Sue Holland, and Tom O'Connell, the former district attorney in Collin County. (See also 03/09/2008; 04/09/2008; 08/09/2008; 09/09/2008; 01/05/2009; 16/09/2009; 24/02/2010).