The Judge Julie Kocurek Judicial and Courthouse Security Act of 2017 passed the chamber Tuesday.
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
Outlook good for statewide texting-while-driving ban, key lawmakers say
Key lawmakers are optimistic about the passage of a bill that would ban texting-and-driving across Texas, despite failed attempts over the last few sessions.
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Criminal Justice
Supreme Court to hear another Texas death penalty case
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear the Texas death penalty case of a Honduran national who was convicted for his role in a 1995 murder of 67-year-old Santiaga Paneque during a Houston home invasion.
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Criminal Justice
Bestiality isn’t illegal in Texas. A Houston lawmaker wants to change that.
Texas is one of eight states that does not have a ban on the books against bestiality.
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Criminal Justice
Years after Rick Perry defunded the Public Integrity Unit, Texas may revive part of it
Texas lawmakers might revive a special prosecuting unit in Travis County — this one only investigating fraud, not corrupt state officials.
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Criminal Justice
Cruz and Cornyn urge Democrats to allow vote on Gorsuch
Amidst the threat of a filibuster from Democrats, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz said Wednesday they are intent on finding a way for Republicans to confirm President Trump’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Criminal Justice
Judge in Paxton case will rule on pretrial issues on Thursday
The judge in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton says he will rule by noon Thursday on a number of major pretrial issues.
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Criminal Justice
Steve Stockman, former aide indicted on fraud charges
The case against Steve Stockman is growing.
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Criminal Justice
Supreme Court says Texas can’t use old medical standards for death row inmates
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Texas death row inmate Tuesday, sending his case back to the appeals court and invalidating the state’s method of determining if a death-sentenced inmate is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution.
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Criminal Justice
Texas death penalty juror hopes to change law as execution looms
As Paul Storey’s execution looms, one juror is asking the Texas Legislature to clarify the jury instructions in death penalty cases, claiming he didn’t know he alone could have stopped the sentence.
