Texas court asked to overturn death sentence of Harris County inmate on death row for nearly 50 years

HOUSTON, Texas – Clarence Jordan, 68, has been on death row for nearly half a century, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is now being asked to overturn his death sentence.

Jordan was first convicted in 1978 of murdering grocery store worker Joe Williams during a robbery.

Jordan’s initial conviction and death sentence were overturned.

• How did a Harris County man spend nearly half a century on death row without being executed?

In 1983, Jordan was again convicted and sentenced to death for Williams’ murder. Four years later, Jordan was declared incompetent, which prohibited the state from carrying out his execution.

Over the ensuing nearly four decades, it is unclear what attempts were made to restore Jordan’s competency. Court records show the judge presiding over the court where Jordan was convicted made periodic inquiries about his mental status, but the record does not show whether any formal action was taken.

In November 2024, attorneys with Texas’s Office of Capital and Forensic Writs petitioned the court to represent Jordan. The OCFW is the post-conviction public defender for capital and forensic science cases.

Ben Wolff, director of OCFW, told 2 Investigates during a February 2025 interview that it does not appear Jordan had any legal representation after 1988.

“One of the heartbreaking injustices in this case is that Mr. Jordan was not just forgotten here, he’s a person who’s intellectually disabled and severely mentally ill who was forgotten,” said Wolff.

In a recently filed writ, Wolff argues Jordan should never have received the death penalty in the first place. Wolff argues Jordan has a documented history of mental illness.

“Mr. Jordan has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, ‘mental retardation,’ and ‘organic brain dysfunction,’ and was known during his trial as ‘Father Nature.’ He has largely been unable to advocate or care for himself,” Wolff wrote in his appeal.

Wolff also argues Jordan’s IQ is below the level that current law allows for a person to be executed.

Wolff writes that Jordan’s death sentence violates the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

During a February 2025 interview with 2 Investigates, officials with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said Jordan’s guilt is not in doubt, but arguments against a death sentence would be considered.

Officials with the DA’s Office said they’ve received Wolff’s recent appeal and are reviewing the arguments.

The DA’s Office expects to file a formal response in three to four weeks.