Texas bypassed the Obama administration’s Department of Justice on Tuesday, opting to ask a panel of federal judges in Washington, D.C., to review the state’s new maps for congressional, legislative and State Board of Education districts.
Judiciary of Texas
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Economy
This Time, Budget Bills Sail Through Senate
After last ditch efforts from Democrats to increase funding for schools through closing tax loopholes and tapping the Rainy Day Fund failed, two budget bills quickly cleared the Senate Friday night.
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State Government
Supreme Court Justices Plead for Legal Aid Dollars
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and Justice Nathan Hecht sent lawmakers a letter Wednesday urging them to find $20 million during the special session to help needy people access civil courts.
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Criminal Justice
Senate Approves Loser-Pays Bill
The Senate unanimously passed a major tort reform bill today that would allow courts to grant attorneys’ fees to prevailing parties under certain circumstances.
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Criminal Justice
Loser-Pays Bill Clears Texas House
Texas got one step closer today to becoming one of the few states with a rule that awards legal fees to prevailing parties in lawsuits.
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Criminal Justice
Perry: We Have a Tort Reform Emergency
With the House set to take up a loser-pays bill for the second time tomorrow, Gov. Rick Perry has added an item to his emergency list: tort reform.
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Criminal Justice
“Loser Pays” Bills Filed in the House and Senate
In advance of today’s bill filing deadline, lawmakers have introduced two bills that would require losing parties to pay attorneys’ fees in a variety of civil lawsuits.
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Criminal Justice
Texas’ Next Tort Reform Battle: “Loser Pays”
Advocates say requiring the losing parties in litigation to pay their opponents’ legal fees is the cure for courts choked with the costs of “junk” lawsuits.
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Guides
Texplainer: Can a Judge Still Serve After Losing an Election?
Ever wonder what a defeated judge is doing up on the bench? Texplainer’s got your answer.
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Criminal Justice
Chief Justice to Legislature: Remember the Neediest
In his biennial State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson urged the Legislature to protect legal aid funding — and renewed his call for the reform of judicial elections.
