The appeals court overturned a 2018 decision from a federal district judge who ruled that the law, which gives adoption placement preference to Native American tribes, was unconstitutional. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged the law in 2017.
Emma Platoff
Emma Platoff was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering the law and its intersection with politics. A graduate of Yale University, Emma is the former managing editor of the Yale Daily News.
Posted inState Government
Texas Democrats sue over Michael Quinn Sullivan and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen meeting
In their lawsuit, the Democrats contend Bonnen, Sullivan and state Rep. Dustin Burrows violated campaign finance laws and demanded that Sullivan produce a recording of the meeting that he has so far played only for select Republicans.
Posted in
Politics
With a new vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court, attention turns to diversity concerns
Gov. Greg Abbott has his third opportunity to appoint a judge to the state’s highest civil court. His first two picks were white men.
Posted in
Politics
Lawmakers dismiss Empower Texans as irrelevant, but the group has the Texas House reeling again
After being ignored for much of this year’s legislative session, the hardline conservative group claims to have a recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offering media credentials in exchange for targeting 10 lawmakers in the 2020 elections.
Posted in
Politics
U.S. Senate confirms Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown to the federal bench
The nod creates a vacancy on the state’s highest civil court, giving Gov. Greg Abbott his third opportunity to make an appointment.
Posted in
TribCast
Tribcast: Beto O’Rourke’s debate performance and the drama rocking the Texas House speaker’s office
In this edition of the TribCast, Emma talks to Patrick, Matthew, Cassi and Jolie about Beto O’Rourke’s debate performance, the accusations shaking up the Texas House speaker’s office and what Texas lawmakers really knew about how their new hemp bill would impact marijuana prosecutions.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas AG Ken Paxton’s criminal case likely to face further delays as attorneys revive fights over venue, prosecutor pay
Attorneys in the securities case against Paxton brought back long-running fights this week with the potential to derail the 4-year-old case even further.
Posted in
Economy
Business groups sue San Antonio to end paid sick leave ordinance
The lawsuit is likely to delay the ordinance’s Aug. 1 effective date.
Posted in
Politics
State leaders again want to review how Texas elects judges. Will they end partisan judicial elections?
After an election that swept scores of Republican judges out of office, Gov. Greg Abbott is eyeing judicial selection reform. Advocates hope that the perennial issue may finally draw some attention.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Judge dismisses part of Texas’ “sanctuary city” lawsuit against San Antonio
In its first enforcement action under a controversial new law, Texas sued San Antonio last year, alleging that the city had broken the law in December 2017.