The timing allows Gov. Greg Abbott to appoint a replacement for the remainder of his term.
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
Criminal Justice
Texas Democrats’ biggest win on election night may have been the courts
Democrats flipped four major state appeals courts, toppling 19 incumbent Republican appellate judges.
Posted in
Politics
2018 was the year of the woman in Texas. Candidates say it’s “not a one-time deal.”
Texas women were poised for potential wins after multiple upsets in March primaries. On Tuesday, in race after race, Texas women won up and down the ballot including races for Congress and the Texas House.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
After losing election, Houston juvenile court judge releases defendants en masse
The Houston Chronicle reports that Judge Glenn Devlin asked juvenile defendants whether they planned to kill anyone, then let nearly all of them go the day after his defeat at the polls.
Posted in
Politics
Steve Stockman, former Texas congressman, sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Stockman — who served two nonconsecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives — was convicted in April of 23 felonies, including fraud and money laundering.
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Courts
At federal appeals court, Texas asks to enforce its ban on a common abortion procedure
Texas state attorneys and lawyers for the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood argued over a law that would ban abortions in which a doctor uses surgical instruments to grasp and remove pieces of fetal tissue.
Posted in
Politics
In midterms, Democrats see a chance to disrupt GOP dominance of state appeals courts
Enough judicial seats are up for election that Democrats could flip the four sprawling appellate court districts that serve Austin, Dallas and Houston. Hillary Clinton won those districts in 2016.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Harris County juvenile judges and private attorneys accused of cronyism: “Everybody wins but the kids”
A handful of private lawyers represent an enormous number of poor kids in Harris County’s juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Meanwhile, the county’s public defenders say they aren’t getting enough work.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Texas Republicans remain huge Donald Trump fans heading into 2018 midterms, says UT/TT Poll
Ask Texas voters what they think about any particular Trump administration policy, and their answers will tell what parties they’re in, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Posted in
Politics
In campaigns for Texas’ top courts, judicial candidates must rely on party ID
In these down-ballot, low-information races, judges’ success often depends on the party leaders at the top of the ballot.
