BOOK SELECTION ANNOUNCED FOR 2020 WASHINGTON CO. READ

  

Lifetime Learning has announced its choice for the 2020 Washington County READ: “Getting Life” by Michael Morton.

The memoir tells the story of Morton, who was wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife.  Morton devoured books during his 25-year stay in prison, before he was exonerated from his life sentence in 2011.

Morton’s love of reading and writing propelled him to obtain an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters in Literature while incarcerated.  The journals he kept became the basis of this memoir, which he published in 2014.

In a rare occurrence, the Williamson County District Attorney who prosecuted the case—and later became a district judge—was charged with contempt of court for withholding evidence that demonstrated Morton’s innocence.  Keen to prevent future wrongful convictions, Texas legislators in 2013 unanimously passed the Michael Morton Act, which now requires prosecutors in all Texas counties to turn over all evidence to the defense.

Lifetime Learning will host a reception, dramatic reading from “Getting Life”, and presentation from attorney John Raley, who assisted in Morton’s exoneration, at Unity Theatre on October 13^th.  The event is free to the community.

For more information, visit www.lifetimelearningbrenham.org.