Two years ago, Texas won a case blocking an immigration policy just one letter different from DACA. As it challenges the narrower, more popular program, Texas has come armed with the same legal arguments that succeeded last time around.
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.
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Politics
Are charter schools private? In Texas courts, it depends why you’re asking.
Texas charter schools are sometimes private and sometimes governmental — a legal framework that has helped them avoid costly lawsuits.
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Higher Education
Former University of Texas law school official arrested as part of ongoing fraud investigation
Jason Shoumaker, the law school’s former facilities director, was arrested Thursday. The alleged fraud could involve “several million dollars of questionable expenses,” a source familiar with the probe said.
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Courts
The government took $41,000 from this Texan at a Houston airport six months ago. They never gave it back.
A nurse from Katy is suing Customs and Border Protection after the agency took the cash from her last October and never charged her with a crime. Advocates say the case shows just how abusive the practice of civil asset forfeiture can be.
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Politics
Blake Farenthold tells Gov. Abbott he won’t pay for special election to replace him
Farenthold resigned in April, months after it came to light that he settled a sexual harassment claim from a former staff member with $84,000 in taxpayer money.
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Criminal Justice
Harris County appoints investigator to look into former death row inmate’s innocence claim
Nearly three years after his release from prison, Alfred Dewayne Brown is still trying to get state compensation for his years spent on Texas’ death row. On Wednesday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced an independent review of Brown’s innocence claim.
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Health care
Immigration shelters nationwide ordered to show minors disputed Texas booklet that links abortion to cancer
Four congressional Democrats objected to the pamphlet this week, saying it includes “blatant lies about the safety of abortion.”
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Criminal Justice
State Rep. René Oliveira arrested, charged with DWI
State Rep. René Oliveira, D-Brownsville, has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to authorities.
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Health care
Texas Supreme Court decision could help uninsured patients negotiate excessive hospital bills
The state’s highest civil court said uninsured patients suing hospitals can access records detailing how much insurance companies paid for similar procedures.
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Criminal Justice
Did this Texas county official break the law to comply with the law?
San Jacinto County Judge John Lovett Jr. was suspended indefinitely by the state’s judicial conduct commission after being indicted on three criminal charges. It looks like his alleged crimes may all have been for the sake of open government.
