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Attorney Don Samuel joins Tex McIver’s defense team

Jan. 23, 2017 - Atlanta - Don Samuel argues before the Supreme Court in the abortion case. At far right, is Dep. Solicitor General Sarah Warren, who argued for the state. The Georgia Supreme court heard two cases this morning. In the first case the court heard arguments in the appeal of a Fulton court ruling involving the state's tax credit scholarship program. The $58 million, K-12 program expends public dollars that in some cases and in a circuitous fashion, fund religious schools. The second case was an abortion case in which the state asserts Georgia's laws are immune from constitutional challenge. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
Jan. 23, 2017 - Atlanta - Don Samuel argues before the Supreme Court in the abortion case. At far right, is Dep. Solicitor General Sarah Warren, who argued for the state. The Georgia Supreme court heard two cases this morning. In the first case the court heard arguments in the appeal of a Fulton court ruling involving the state's tax credit scholarship program. The $58 million, K-12 program expends public dollars that in some cases and in a circuitous fashion, fund religious schools. The second case was an abortion case in which the state asserts Georgia's laws are immune from constitutional challenge. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Bill Rankin
Nov 27, 2017

Claude “Tex” McIver’s defense team is getting a big boost this week with the addition of prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Don Samuel.

In an interview, Samuel said he will join lawyer Bruce Harvey in defending McIver, who is accused of deliberately killing his wife Diane by shooting her in the back as they drove along Piedmont Road the night of Sept. 25, 2016. McIver insists the shooting was accidental, and "the evidence will ultimately establish that he is innocent beyond any doubt," Samuel said.

McIver is the subject of "Breakdown," a podcast by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. You can listen to episodes at AJC.COM or go to the iTunes store (or your favorite podcast app) to binge listen to the entire series.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

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