The Nation - News from March 26, 1989

Texas law protects prosecutors, and there is little chance Randall Dale Adams would be compensated through a lawsuit for his 12 1/2-year imprisonment and near-execution before being freed as the result of a movie about his ordeal. Adams was released from prison last week after new evidence brought out in the film “The Thin Blue Line” had strongly suggested that another man killed a Texas policeman. Adams’ attorney, Randy Schaffer, said he intends to ask the Texas Legislature to authorize good-will compensation for Adams, who has since moved home to Columbus, Ohio. “Even if there’s out-and-out misconduct ... you can’t sue the prosecutor,” Dallas civil rights attorney Doug Larson said.