After 10 months and 81 decisions, the Texas Supreme Court wrapped up its 2017 term on Friday. Here’s a look back at what the nine justices decided — and didn’t.
Texas Supreme Court
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Criminal Justice
Texas Supreme Court throws out ruling that favored same-sex marriage benefits
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that said spouses of gay and lesbian public employees are entitled to government-subsidized same-sex marriage benefits.
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Politics
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a Wisconsin redistricting case. What does that mean for Texas?
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it was taking up a case from Wisconsin on political redistricting. What could the move mean for Texas, which is prepping for its own redistricting trial next month?
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Criminal Justice
House votes to end jail time for being too poor to pay fines
Senate Bill 1913, by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would allow courts to ask defendants if they are too poor to pay for traffic tickets, fines for other low-level and fine-only offenses or court costs.
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Criminal Justice
Texas House passes court security bill
The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek. Her assailant shot at her several times outside her home, and she suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel.
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Politics
Bills to plug public information “loopholes” breeze through Senate
The legislation pushes back against two 2015 Texas Supreme Court rulings that have enabled private companies involved with government contracts to keep parts of those contracts secret.
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Criminal Justice
Texas counties rally against statewide court records portal
Texas counties are trying to kill an effort to allow public access to court records from all 254 counties through an online portal, and they’ve found friendly ears in the Legislature.
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Criminal Justice
Treat same-sex couples the same as others, Texas Supreme Court told
Same-sex couples are entitled to the same treatment as opposite-sex couples, a lawyer for the city of Houston argued before the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday in a case challenging the city’s benefits policy for married same-sex couples.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Supreme Court to take up same-sex marriage case
Same-sex marriage has been legal for almost two years, but opponents are looking to fight a U.S. Supreme Court ruling through a lawsuit challenging Houston’s benefits for same-sex couples.
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Criminal Justice
Legislature should prioritize judicial security, Texas Supreme Court chief justice says
In his State of the Judiciary address Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discussed bail reform, the cost of legal expenses, mental health issues and a host of other topics.
