The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas police chiefs are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to veto legislation repealing certain handgun restrictions in Texas if lawmakers do not remove a controversial provision the chiefs fear would allow criminals to carry firearms without repercussions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/12/UP9A0924.jpg)
A final effort to raise from 17 to 18 the age at which offenders automatically enter the adult legal system made it through the Texas House on Tuesday, tacked onto a bill reorganizing the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/11/JuvenileJustice-School_1.jpg)
An expansive border security bill declared a priority by Gov. Greg Abbott was given final approval Tuesday by the Texas Senate. The vote marked the near end of a months-long disagreement between the House and the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/04/BorderSurge_EG28-sized.jpg)
A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has denied the White House’s request to let a controversial immigration policy proceed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/12/18/TxTrib-ImmigrationRally005.jpg)
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear a case that centers on how Texas draws its political districts, a longtime point of dispute between the state and voting rights advocates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/24/SupremeCourtVoting-4a.jpg)
Inmates in some Texas county jails may no longer have to speak to loved ones on a video screen, after the Senate voted Monday to pass a House measure guaranteeing a minimum of two 20-minute, in-person visitations per week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prisoners_CM.jpg)
The Texas House on Monday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require state agencies and public universities to use the federal electronic employment system called E-Verify. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/E-Verify_QuestionMark.jpg)
The Texas House on Sunday gave final approval to an overhaul of the state's grand juries, moving one step closer to getting rid of a controversial way of seating the panels. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Gavel003.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a measure that makes online solicitation of a minor a punishable offense and changes the definition of a minor, calling it "regrettable that this bill is necessary." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/04/_BDB2339Abbottpauses.jpg)
The Texas Senate voted Thursday to weaken the state’s Driver Responsibility Program, which critics say unfairly penalizes poor Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/12/7C2A1206.jpg)
At our 5/21 conversation with state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about big issues that are unresolved with a week to go in the session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Nevarez1.jpg)
Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos hopes his tenure represents a shifting tide in the office — away from partisan gridlock over voting, and toward bolstering Texas' relations with Mexico and improving life along the state's southern border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/19/_F5U0084CMSCascos.jpg)
The House and Senate stepped closer to a final deal on a two-year budget Wednesday evening, settling dozens of differences between the two chambers including funding for public education and border security. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/20/OttoNelson1CMS.jpg)
A major piece of border security legislation cleared another hurdle in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, prompting lawmakers to predict that a compromise between the House and Senate will be hashed out before the session ends June 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/16/UP9A3773.jpg)
Legislation that would keep the names of execution drug providers secret is headed to the governor’s office after the Texas House gave final approval on Tuesday to a Senate measure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Lethal-Injection_Split.jpg)
After idling in the Senate, two controversial immigration bills — ending in-state tuition for some undocumented immigrants and barring sanctuary cities — are apparently back in play. But it remains unclear whether sponsors have the votes to bring the measures up for debate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/13/UP9A6756.jpg)
With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, the Texas House is all that is keeping a stalled measure requiring public universities and colleges to allow concealed handguns on their campuses from reaching the governor's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ConcealedCarry_1.jpg)
Accused of making offensive comments and holding a 15-hour court session without restroom or food breaks, a district judge in Texas' South Plains has been publicly admonished and instructed to seek four hours of training with a mentor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/021210-gavel.jpg)
The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn't involve tax cuts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/UP9A4505.jpg)
A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/24/E-Verify.jpg)