The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Brian Encinia, the ex-trooper who arrested Sandra Bland in 2015, has had his perjury charge dropped. The prosecution moved to dismiss the charge after Encinia agreed to give up his police license. Full Story
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The Trump administration has begun to appoint U.S. attorneys and federal judges. But so far those efforts have not reached Texas. Full Story
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The border city of El Paso on Tuesday voted to add its name to the list of local governments that have joined a lawsuit to stop Texas' immigration bill, Senate Bill 4, from going into effect. Full Story
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After years of challenging the University of Texas at Austin's use of affirmative action in federal court, Edward Blum will now try to end the practice in state court. Full Story
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Monday was the first day of what could be a lengthy legal battle over Senate Bill 4, which has been billed as the toughest state-based immigration bill in the country. Full Story
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With its current term ending this week, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday delivered a handful of rulings on high-profile cases. Here's what they mean for Texas. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a Texas death row inmate Monday, making Erick Davila's case ineligible for review in federal court. Full Story
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Texas rules barring sex offenders from using certain websites were thrown into jeopardy Monday morning after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar statute in North Carolina violates the First Amendment. Full Story
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A bill signed into law Wednesday ensures that parents will be permitted to see their dead children before autopsies are performed. Full Story
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Starting in September, Texas law enforcement agencies could be fined $1,000 a day if they don’t report police shootings to the state in a timely manner. Full Story
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Texas recently became the 47th state to pass a statewide texting-while-driving ban. The governor's proposal to pre-empt local ordinances on drivers' mobile phone use could weaken stricter city ordinances that have been in place for years. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Roger Williams said he dove for the dugout as a gunman began shooting Wednesday morning during a GOP congressional baseball practice in Virginia. U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and one of Williams' staffers were among those shot. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Public Safety surprised customers last week when the agency trimmed office hours to save money. Full Story
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Harris County District Judge Robert Johnson's court has been assigned to oversee Attorney General Ken Paxton's securities fraud case. Full Story
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Watch Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith's interview of David Brown on the KLRU-TV program "Overheard with Evan Smith." Full Story
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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has declined to intervene in the dispute over the judge in Attorney General Ken Paxton's securities fraud case. Full Story
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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday halted the execution of a man convicted in the murder of a McKinney real estate agent in 2007. Full Story
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State Rep. Victoria Neave was arrested by Dallas police for allegedly driving while intoxicated overnight. She remained in jail Wednesday morning. Full Story
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Almost two years after The Texas Tribune and Austin American-Statesman revealed that a private Texas insurer had paid millions to government prosecutors to investigate certain fraud cases, the deal is being scrapped. In its place: a state-funded team. Full Story
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Prosecutors in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton are asking the state's highest criminal court to overturn a ruling backing his push for a new judge. Full Story
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