Current and former heads of Texas’ prison system defended asking for lesser amounts to air-condition facilities during a federal trial on extreme heat in TDCJ facilities.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
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Courts
Trump issues order to impose new rules on mailing of ballots
Much of Trump’s first executive order on elections has been blocked in court. Legal challenges are likely for this one, too.
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Courts
Texas judge rejects push to let churches make political endorsements
A group of Texas churches and the IRS agreed to nix the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits nonprofits from endorsing candidates. A Trump-appointed judge said no.
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2026 Texas Elections
Voting rights groups sue Texas over removal of potential noncitizens from the voter roll
The lawsuit says officials failed to check for proof of citizenship that voters may have already provided the state.
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Winter Storm 2021
Texas Supreme Court ends lawsuits against power generators over 2021 winter storm
Tens of thousands of residents and small businesses sought damages from power generators after losing electricity during the storm that resulted in billions in losses and 246 deaths.
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Criminal Justice
Federal trial over air conditioning in Texas prisons set to start Monday
About two-thirds of Texas prisons are not fully air conditioned, and dozens of inmates have died in the sweltering heat.
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Courts
Abbott legal brief criticizes Paxton’s rushed lawsuit against Harris County’s immigrant legal fund
“Perhaps the Attorney General only recently learned of this program; perhaps the office’s attention was focused elsewhere,” lawyers for Abbott wrote, noting the fund has existed for five years.
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Criminal Justice
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed
Reed has sought to test crime-scene evidence that he says will help clear him of the killing of 19-year-old Stacey Stites in 1996.
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Criminal Justice
Texas inmate seeks to stop looming execution after codefendant confesses to double murders
In his appeal, James Broadnax, who also wants a new trial, included a signed confession by his cousin saying he committed the 2008 Garland murders.
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Criminal Justice
Texas jails aren’t meeting deadlines to free inmates, costing some counties thousands in settlements
The state does not track the prevalence or provide guidance on the issue, leaving inmates to languish in jail and eventually sue counties for damages.