The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Since 2007, Hillcrest residents have sued to challenge plans for a sewage treatment plant in their neighborhood, and then bridge construction. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9a0a3b73c2580abfdd5db3f659c6ffef/ICN%20Desal%20Plants%20DL%20TT%2001.JPG)
Ron Wilson, a Democrat who served as state representative between 1977 and 2004, pleads guilty to one count of tax evasion after trying to hide some of his income and failing to pay taxes over two decades. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d70650d494d25ef76b6f0ceff273931a/Ron%20Wilson%20TxLege%2001%20TT.jpg)
Several abortion funds have sued anti-abortion activist Mark Lee Dickson, who called them “criminal organizations,” for defamation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b40c324ae514ec2115e6f435fa6b263f/Abilene%20Churches%20ST%20TT%2003.jpg)
The nine-member Texas Supreme Court has the power to make sweeping decisions that interpret the meaning of the state’s constitution, impacting the lives of Texans across the state. Three seats are on the ballot this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33d079f62c7ba62a8ed62c3a3be7e88f/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2013.jpg)
Attorney General Ken Paxton pursued charges against Rogers, who was on parole when he voted in the 2020 primary election. But a judge tossed the case after a higher court said Paxton can’t unilaterally prosecute election crimes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7014dec69eb3a2dc07b8f2442c88e539/Hervis%20Rogers%20COURTESY%20OF%20ACLU.jpg)
Residential treatment centers are meant to be a last resort for children in the state’s care, reserved for those with histories of severe trauma caused by neglect or abuse. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6d9308f8cc5b2d18c3b38506f1d1ceec/DFPS%20Trans%20Youth%20Hearing%20JV%20TT%2002.jpg)
The state is looking at whether FTX is selling unregistered securities to Texans. The firm’s CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, is a major donor to Beto O’Rourke’s campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f51b444bd54777415599c98df20e5662/Sam%20Bankman-Fried%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
The award is the largest the Texas conspiracy theorist has been ordered to pay as part of three defamation lawsuits against him for falsely claiming that the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, was a hoax. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fd4ab42447908650e87df9d91c067fce/Alex%20Jones%20Conn%20Suit%20REUTERS.jpg)
Thomas’ attorneys appealed saying that some members of the jury that sentenced him had expressed racist views. In their dissent, the court’s three liberal justices wrote that Thomas’ conviction and death sentence were unconstitutional. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d6a98723642cc86872a5484a2d57882/SCOTUS%20Nov%201%20EL%20TT%2019.jpg)
Mistakes and backbiting have engulfed the El Paso County district attorney’s office. Some question whether she is competent to handle one of the most high-profile death penalty cases in recent Texas history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb360b0466fb12bbab032d612cee51cd/DA%20Rosales%20Hearing%20EPM%20TT%2022.jpg)
The Texas nonprofit has spread voter fraud conspiracy theories for years. Konnech Inc. accuses the organization of defamation and computer fraud in a lawsuit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a5088411e9c9013725f2c53ea68400f/Hays%20County%20Election%20Test%20EL%2008.jpg)
Watchdog groups fear the film will fuel chaos in the upcoming midterm elections and could be a pretext for more restrictive voting laws in the future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc9506d945788a390b80b1f80cc7af54/Paxton%20Patrick%20Miller%20TT.jpg)
Among other issues, the court will consider whether a law that updated the education code last year has any bearing on TEA Commissioner Mike Morath’s attempt to replace HISD’s board members over low academic scores. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b4d51bf8235e806f858488548d0cc4f3/House%20Homeland%20Cmte%20EL%20TT%2029.jpg)
Ruling in a suit brought by Texas, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk vacated guidance on gender-affirming care for children and pronouns, dress and bathroom protections for LGBTQ workers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fafa721046456c978d43e12ee592fc9c/LGBTQ%20Supreme%20Court%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
The two-time Olympic champion’s wife spoke out for the first time since Griner’s sentencing two months ago in an interview with CBS’ Gayle King. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b81729aae5172593e86a61b95265264/Brittney%20Griner%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
The latest ruling in the long-running legal fight over the program doesn’t change the status quo for the program, which protects some undocumented immigrants from deportation and gives them work permits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d93c9d8bd610b6c81e6a77863699d0eb/DACA%20SCOTUS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Earlier this year, Ramirez won a legal fight to have his pastor beside him at his execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61ec3a3db4b17f59317edac60ad883bc/Huntsville%20Jail%20MF%20TT%2002.jpg)
A federal judge who previously quashed the subpoena ruled that the attorney general must take the witness stand in a lawsuit from abortion funds. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c3f11965aa5b5fe042942ff4958088c/SCOTUS%20Paxton%20Presser%20TT%20EL%2018.jpg)
The appellate court reversed a previous ruling that found that Texas violated federal law by refusing to release the list. The suit was brought by five civil rights groups that sought to hold Texas accountable if it disenfranchised naturalized citizens. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf17f1d55bf09b5f2040b3a820cdf017/SB%207%20Voting%20Rally%20MM%20TT%2021.jpg)
The grand jury said it did not find sufficient evidence to indict Iesha Greene, who was reported to have sold and solicited nude photos of children at the Bastrop shelter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/87181ea21145c949daf28faa8d9e907f/Bastrop%20Refuge%20JV%20TT%2017.jpg)