Crystal Mason Asks Highest Criminal Court to Affirm Acquittal
AUSTIN, Texas 鈥� The 桃子视频 of Texas, the national ACLU, and the Texas Civil Rights Project, along with criminal defense attorney Alison Grinter and civil rights attorney Kim T. Cole, today on behalf of Crystal Mason in the case of . The brief argues that the state鈥檚 highest Court of Criminal Appeals should affirm the court of appeals' decision to acquit Crystal Mason.
Mason, a Black mother of three from Fort Worth, was convicted of illegal voting for submitting a provisional ballot in 2016 that was never counted. She believed she was fulfilling her civic duty and having no idea the state considered her ineligible to vote. The Texas Second Court of Appeals Crystal Mason鈥檚 conviction.
鈥淔or eight years, I have faced prison for simply trying to do my civic duty,鈥� said Crystal Mason. 鈥淭hroughout this time, I have maintained hope in the courts and in our democracy that what is right will prevail, and I will not be separated from my children and grandchildren for half a decade simply for submitting a provisional ballot that was never counted as a vote. On the eve of another major election, I hope people will think of my story and how precious our rights are. This experience has made me even more passionate about voting rights, and I continue to have faith that this court will uphold the lower court鈥檚 acquittal and grant me the freedom I have been praying for.鈥�
Download Crystal Mason's video statement:
The Court of Criminal Appeals will review the lower court鈥檚 decision that found there was insufficient evidence to show that Mason knew she was ineligible to vote. She faces up to five years in prison.
The following statements can be attributed to members of her legal team:
鈥淭he record does not support Ms. Mason鈥檚 conviction,鈥� said Tommy Buser-Clancy, senior staff attorney for the 桃子视频of Texas. 鈥淢s. Mason had no idea the state considered her ineligible to vote when she submitted her provisional ballot in 2016. She had no reason to risk separation from her family and her freedom just to cast a ballot that was never even counted. We remain confident that the lower court鈥檚 acquittal of her will be upheld, reassuring Texans that we can do our civic duty without fear of criminalization.鈥�
鈥淲e are confident the court will agree that Crystal Mason鈥檚 acquittal should stand,鈥� said Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU鈥檚 Voting Rights Project.
鈥淢s. Mason has been dealing with this case for eight years now. She never should have been charged,鈥� said Christina Beeler, senior supervising attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project. 鈥淭he evidence shows that she did not know she was ineligible when she cast her provisional ballot at the urging of election workers, and her ballot was never even counted 鈥� the system worked as intended. We are confident that the Court of Criminal Appeals will affirm the decision by the Second Court of Appeals.鈥�
鈥淎 court of appeals has already recognized the need to order an acquittal for Ms. Mason, and I am optimistic that the state鈥檚 highest criminal court will do the same,鈥� said Alison Grinter, criminal defense attorney. 鈥淭his prosecution has had the intended effect of sowing confusion and fear in the electorate. It鈥檚 time for this nightmare to end once and for all.鈥�
鈥淢s. Mason was targeted. She never should have been maliciously prosecuted for trying to exercise her civic duty in the first place,鈥� said Kim T. Cole, civil attorney for Mason. 鈥淒espite this insanely lengthy and arduous process, I still believe that justice will ultimately prevail. I have faith that the highest criminal court in Texas will confirm that reversing Ms. Mason's unjust conviction is the correct and righteous outcome.鈥�
Access the Court of Criminal Appeals brief:
Download Crystal Mason's video statement:
