Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine narrowly survives heated primary centered on judicial ethics
Devine will face 281st District Judge Christine Vinh Weems in November’s general election. Full Story
Robert Downen is a reporter covering democracy and the threats to it, including extremism, disinformation and conspiracies. Before joining the Tribune in 2022, he worked for five years at the Houston Chronicle. As a Hearst Media fellow, he developed what would become "Abuse of Faith," a landmark investigation into child sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention that prompted a Department of Justice investigation. Before coming to Texas, Robert was a business reporter in New York's capital region, and the managing editor of six newspapers in his home state of Illinois. He is a 2014 graduate of Eastern Illinois University.
Devine will face 281st District Judge Christine Vinh Weems in November’s general election. Full Story
Woodfill’s endorsement by Paxton was decried by some Republicans because of his close ties to Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler, who has been accused multiple times of sexual abuse. Full Story
Candidates continued their campaigns at a subdued pace, as they focused on getting resources for fire victims. Full Story
Texans For Lawsuit Reform and pro-voucher groups are also spending millions. Full Story
Devine, a former anti-abortion activist, faces a heated primary challenge that has focused on questions about his ethics. Full Story
Two decades ago, John Devine worked with the law firm of Paul Pressler and Jared Woodfill, later defendants in a Southern Baptist abuse case. Full Story
The party’s executive committee also formally censured House Speaker Dade Phelan on Saturday. Full Story
In a statement, Biedermann said the point he was trying to make was that leaders “selectively punish impropriety.” Full Story
Woodfill’s former client fears that politics played a role in the case, which she said was mishandled and abruptly closed by the Harris County DA’s office. Full Story
The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long-simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures. Full Story