The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
A Chambers County resident filed a class-action lawsuit against electricity retailer Griddy on Monday, accusing the provider of price gouging customers during last week’s freeze. She is seeking $1 billion in relief for affected customers. Full Story
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Paxton's legal troubles are increasing in volume, at just about the time an officeholder in his position would be thinking about the next round of elections. Full Story
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The U.S. Senate voted to acquit the former president on Saturday after a five-day impeachment trial in which several Texans played a key role. The state's two Republican senators voted to acquit, as they did during Trump's first impeachment trial. Full Story
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A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story
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U.S. District Judge Janis Jack says she will give state officials until May to make progress on her orders to overhaul the state's foster care system, or face hefty fines. Full Story
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Judge Drew Tipton originally issued a 14-day suspension of Biden’s moratorium on Jan. 26. The pause in deportations was part of Biden’s attempted day one overhaul of several of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Full Story
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Their plea comes just days after a state district judge temporarily stopped the state from excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. Full Story
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With the GOP in control of state government and “a favorable backstop from the courts, it’s going to be a no-holds-barred approach for Republicans on abortion,” one political science professor said. Full Story
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The Harris County sheriff has pleaded for help from a federal judge to make room at the “bursting” jail in Houston, where six inmates and two employees have died from COVID-19. Full Story
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The high court vacated two rulings from the lower U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that sided with Texas GOP officials arguing that Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 2020 executive order prohibited abortion under all but a few narrow circumstances in an attempt to preserve medical resources for COVID-19 patients. Full Story
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President Joe Biden issued an executive order calling for a 100-day moratorium on some deportations as part of a sweeping review and reset of immigration and enforcement policies. Full Story
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For the past four years, Texas Republicans have had an ally in the White House. Now they’re readying for the familiar role of conservative counterweight. Full Story
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The National Rifle Association filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may reincorporate in Texas. Experts say it’s fleeing a fraud case in New York. Full Story
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In a lawsuit, four former Paxton aides claim they were wrongfully terminated for reporting alleged criminal behavior on his part. Paxton’s agency wants a judge to quash subpoenas and depositions, saying that as an elected official Paxton is exempt from state whistleblower protection laws. Full Story
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Paxton has individually condemned the violence on television and social media while falsely claiming the pro-Trump mob that invaded the U.S. Capitol was infiltrated by liberal antifa activists. Full Story
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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals took the rare step Wednesday in the landmark case of Roy Oliver, who was convicted of murder in the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Full Story
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At a low point in his rollercoaster political career, Paxton is betting on the Trump base to bring him back up the hill, lending the legitimacy of office to debunked claims that have motivated violence. Full Story
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The senator from Texas is among legislators questioning the validity of President-elect Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump. What's at stake? The hearts of the Republican voters who strongly back the incumbent president. Full Story
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Texas could pay the outside lawyers tens of millions for their work on the case — an early indication of the costs taxpayers may bear in the latest scandal enveloping Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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From March until June, Texas had zero jury trials because of the pandemic, starting a backlog of cases that will take years to overcome. This summer some counties started experimenting with in-person jury trials, which have posed health risks for those involved. Full Story
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