Brian Kolfage, who’s charged in a case where he’s accused of defrauding thousands in a “build the wall” effort, has used personal attacks and misinformation against perceived opponents.
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.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Federal appeals court temporarily blocks ruling that reinstated straight-ticket voting in Texas
A federal judge’s ruling temporarily reinstating the practice of one-punch voting has been put on a temporary hold as judges on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals weigh the issue.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Houston Republicans sue to limit in-person and absentee voting options in Harris County
Conservative activist Steve Hotze and a number of Republican candidates and officials are asking the Texas Supreme Court to shorten the early voting period and limit drop-off locations for absentee ballots in the state’s largest Democratic county.
Posted in
Politics
President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court
Both of Texas’ Republican U.S. senators have indicated they support moving forward with the Supreme Court confirmation process less than two months before the election.
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Health care
After Ginsburg’s death, high stakes for Texas’ legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act
Experts say the Supreme Court is unlikely to strike down the law in its entirety. Texas’ GOP leaders have yet to produce a promised plan to replace it.
Posted in
Demographics
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from stopping census count next week
A federal judge in California late Thursday ordered that the census count should continue until Oct. 31, the date the Census Bureau had planned on before the administration abruptly shortened the count.
Posted in
Immigration
Immigration policies hang in the balance as U.S. Senate prepares for fight over Ginsburg’s successor
President Trump hopes to quickly appoint a replacement for the liberal justice, and immigrant and civil rights groups are bracing for what could be years of losses in the high court.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
As part of revived federal death penalty, Christopher Vialva executed for Texas double murder
Vialva was the seventh man executed in the federal execution chamber this year after a 17-year hiatus of the federal death penalty. Texas, meanwhile, is expected to have a comparatively low number of state executions this year because of the pandemic.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
East Texas official arrested for alleged mail-in voter fraud involving 2018 Democratic primary for local seat
The indictments center on about 38 ballots or applications for ballots in a Gregg County Commissioners Court race. Experts say voter fraud is rare.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Texas begins letting people register to vote online when they’re updating their driver’s licenses
The limited move, ordered by a federal judge, marks the first time Texans have been able to register to vote online.
