On this week’s TribCast, Emily, Ross, Patrick and Emma talk to state Rep. Sarah Davis about Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to unseat her, Ross’ primary hot list and a state Supreme Court justice’s quick-turn candidacy.
Texas Supreme Court
Posted in
Politics
He’s been a Texas Supreme Court justice for a month. Now Jimmy Blacklock must become a candidate.
New state Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock is the latest judge to face a familiar challenge in Texas: On the bench, he has to appear impartial. But to keep his seat, he has to win the approval of Texas’ deep-red electorate.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Trial begins in case targeting Texas’ statewide elections of judges
Both sides revealed the outlines of their cases Monday in a federal court trial testing Texas’ nearly 150-year-old system of statewide elections to the state’s two highest courts.
Posted inState Government
As U.S. Supreme Court takes up Texas redistricting case, it dismisses partisan gerrymandering appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the efforts of Texas Democrats and other plaintiffs to revive a partisan gerrymandering legal claim in the ongoing litigation over the state’s political maps.
Posted in
Environment
Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments in plastic bag ban case
Lawyers spent almost an hour in the Texas Supreme Court arguing whether Laredo’s 2015 ban on plastic grocery bags was illegal. The future of bag bans in cities across the state could hinge on the case.
Posted inState Government
State Supreme Court case could bring an end to plastic bag bans in Texas
The Texas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in the case, Laredo Merchants Association v. The City of Laredo, in which the merchants’ association is arguing a ban on single-use bags by the city is illegal.
Posted inState Government
U.S. Supreme Court declines to consider Houston fight over same-sex marriage benefits
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will not review a June decision by the Texas Supreme Court that ruled that the legalization of same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits.
Posted in
Politics
Don Willett defends controversial tweets as jokes at confirmation hearing before U.S. Senate
Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, a nominee of President Donald Trump to a federal court, defended past tweets about transgender people and same-sex marriage as jokes at a confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Analysis: It’s an honor, but don’t quit your day job
Don Willett has a job — he’s a justice on the Texas Supreme Court. And he’s been picked for a job on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But until that new job comes through, he’s going to try to keep the job he’s got — in 2018’s elections.
Posted inState Government
Houston looks to Supreme Court to resolve same-sex marriage benefits fight
The city of Houston is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Texas Supreme Court in which it suggested a landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits.
