Most registered sex offenders would be barred from living on college campuses under a bill unanimously approved by a House committee Wednesday.
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
Ruling could mean new execution date for man convicted in prison guard’s murder
A death row inmate convicted in a Texas prison guard’s murder lost another appeal Wednesday at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas House backs crowdfunding measure to test more rape kits
A bill that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits tentatively passed the Texas House Wednesday on a voice vote.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
How the Texas “bathroom bill” compares to North Carolina’s revised law
After North Carolina revised its controversial bathroom law last week, the NCAA announced it would again consider the state for future championship games. So is the proposed Texas bill more like the new North Carolina law or its predecessor?
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate panel approves bill banning bestiality in Texas
“These are serious crimes,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the bill’s author. “The state’s response should be as well.”
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate passes court security bill named in honor of Austin judge who was attacked
The Judge Julie Kocurek Judicial and Courthouse Security Act of 2017 passed the chamber Tuesday.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.
