After 10 months and 81 decisions, the Texas Supreme Court wrapped up its 2017 term on Friday. Here’s a look back at what the nine justices decided — and didn’t.
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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Criminal Justice
School boards, cities sought to stop Gov. Abbott from signing drone bill
Organizations representing hundreds of Texas cities and school boards unsuccessfully urged Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a bill aimed at restricting drone use around the state.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Supreme Court rejects Tea Party challenge to campaign finance laws
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday upheld the state’s ban on direct corporate campaign contributions, denying a challenge from a Tea Party group that called it unconstitutional.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Supreme Court throws out ruling that favored same-sex marriage benefits
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that said spouses of gay and lesbian public employees are entitled to government-subsidized same-sex marriage benefits.
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Criminal Justice
Trump slow to fill judicial seats in Texas (video)
All four U.S. attorney seats, 11 district judgeships and two slots on the historically conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sit open.
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Criminal Justice
Trial date still uncertain as new judge holds first hearing in Paxton case
The securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton kicked off Thursday in Harris County with no new trial date being set. Paxton has had two previous trial dates scrapped due to legal disputes.
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Criminal Justice
Perjury charge dropped against trooper who arrested Sandra Bland
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.
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Criminal Justice
Trump has left 17 legal vacancies in Texas
The Trump administration has begun to appoint U.S. attorneys and federal judges. But so far those efforts have not reached Texas.
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Criminal Justice
City of El Paso joins plaintiffs in suit against Texas immigration law
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.
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Criminal Justice
Man behind Fisher affirmative action case files new lawsuit against UT-Austin
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.
