By taking probation power away from the jury, the Lege took “needed killing” out, by and large, of the jury’s province, and placed it with the bureaucrats.

All is not lost for this defendant, though. This is Harris County, and while a white guy who premeditatedly shot two black burglars in full view of the cops may not receive a medal publicly from the district attorney, neither is he likely to get indicted for murder.