The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Nearly two decades after the U.S. Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional to execute those with intellectual disabilities, Texas still has no process on determining the condition — leaving life-and-death decisions in the hands of courts with very different methods. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cfaaee317cdac2ee22fcd5b617bbb11d/Texas_Death_Row_Illustration.jpg)
Jennings was put to death Wednesday for the 1988 murder of Elston Howard. The long sentence was complicated by constantly evolving death penalty laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aeaa678248d5f5497341734a7ed2af14/Robert_Jennings_Death_Row.jpg)
Thirteen groups issued the warning, and some are considering suing the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c76cef6db9877bcfbd1b66c59591d95/EARLY_VOTING_Oct_22_5_MS_TT.jpg)
Justices questioned whether revealing the name would risk physical harm to the supplier — or only hurt its business. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26c9f8fe06a378c9d61a16d90db20fe4/05_Supreme_Court_EW_TT.jpg)
Last week, a federal judge in New York ordered the administration to stop its plans to add the question to the survey. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/06/26/6F6A7717.jpg)
A group of Texans is headed to court in hopes of blocking the Trump administration from including a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Here's a primer on the legal fight and what it could mean for the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e636fe34382dc731c1aebc8df273499b/hardtocount-leadart.png)
Texas moved to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid years ago after a highly-edited video from an anti-abortion group suggested abortion providers sold fetal tissue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/29/UP9A3701.jpg)
The court ordered Austin to pay a fine to the state for each day it prevented investigators from the attorney general's office from carrying their firearms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f70031cfe9392eb0e730a344586a7753/TXGOPWomen_Paxton_BD_TT.jpg)
The Trump administration no longer supports requiring Texas to obtain federal approval of changes to its legislative and congressional maps. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4bbf65d13a4f38c0d164938a324addbb/.LOWRESDONTUSE)
Judge Elsa Alcala ended her tenure critical of the death penalty and often pleading for policy changes from the state Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc1093ff39278bd3efaaa149610237f7/05_Judge_Elsa_Alcala_MG.jpg)
Amid a packed Austin courtroom Monday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel told attorneys he was confused by their arguments in a sweeping lawsuit challenging dozens of Texas abortion laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e512781eba01c62c108ee53a2bdf9b73/WWHA_Paxton_Abortion_US_Court_3.jpg)
Court cases are slowing down and it’s taking some people longer to buy a home, but national parks are open and the Border Patrol is still working. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/12a0be73943e77708056a76325fb6c5f/BD%20INC%20Big%20Bend%20001%202012)
The Missouri City Democrat has won re-election several times since his 2015 conviction on misdemeanor charges for illegally soliciting clients. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/16/RonReynold-2.jpg)
A federal judge ruled last month that the sweeping health care law is unconstitutional in its entirety. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/01/6F6A2713.jpg)
The state's highest criminal court must reconsider a November decision to ensure its proceedings "appear fair to all who observe them," prosecutors argued. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/12/20/NMC_01_paxtonhearing_112JL_TT.jpg)
President Donald Trump’s Nov. 9 proclamation barred asylum for anyone who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border between official ports of entry. It came in reaction to recent caravans of migrants from Central America. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/332e684693fcf912807cf74c61495398/180624008_BRIDGE_RL.jpg)
More than 72 percent of those on death row in Texas are people of color. Studies show race plays a role in the state's harshest punishment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/06/Witness_Viewing_RoomCrop.jpg)
A spokesman said the University of Texas at Austin has already taken steps to improve its spending procedures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/456a9f05c09accb5b2f237fcaec68f58/UT_Law_School_02.jpg)
A Washington D.C.-based judge ruled the policy, which was implemented by former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in June, went against standards set forth in the Immigration and Naturalization Act. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9afc422daadd3955ae4c432a31c2cc08/180624009_BRIDGE_RL.jpg)
The Texas Attorney General's Office has made a habit of filing lawsuits against the federal government that land in O'Connor's court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/105beb26f52da30b1904d1e850b81dcb/Reed_Oconnor_Texas_Judge_2.jpg)