The death penalty has been slowly on the decline in the U.S. Tough-on-crime Texas has also seen a decline in its use. What could that mean for the future of the penalty here?
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
Federal court blocks Texas fetal remains burial rule
U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks ruled Texas cannot require health providers to bury or cremate fetuses, delivering another blow to state leaders in the reproductive rights debate.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas executes man convicted in double murder
After a nearly four-hour delay while waiting on final appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, Terry Edwards was executed Thursday night for a robbery turned murder he claimed he did not commit.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Jury to decide Border Patrol agent’s fate
The fate of Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna and his Mexican-born brother Eduardo, both charged with drug trafficking and the murder of a would-be snitch, is set to fall to a Cameron County jury Friday after almost two weeks of testimony and sparring over evidence.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Amid “sanctuary” standoff, Abbott asks agencies to list Travis County funding
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is asking state agencies to take stock of their funds to Travis County as he further escalates his standoff with the county’s sheriff, Sally Hernandez, over her new “sanctuary” policy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Civil rights group asks judge to sanction state in voter registration suit
Civil rights lawyers suing Texas over its voter registration practices asked a federal judge to sanction the state for allegedly blowing past deadlines and ignoring a court order to hand over documents.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Late appeals denied, man’s execution set for murder he says he didn’t commit
A man who claims he is innocent is set to be executed Thursday evening in a robbery turned double murder in Dallas County.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In addition to border wall, Trump’s executive action targets detention space
The White House announced Wednesday that in addition to moving to build a barrier on the southern border, it will act to build more detention space for undocumented immigrants in the area.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
While bracing for action from Trump, Democrats also vow to fight state bills on sanctuary cities
Texas House and Senate Democrats said Wednesday they’d keep fighting efforts by state Republicans to crack down on cities viewed as sanctuary cities even as a related executive order from President Trump was expected later in the day.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Abbott proposes removing any officeholder who “promotes sanctuary cities”
Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that he and state lawmakers will pursue legislation that would “remove from office any officeholder who promotes sanctuary cities.”
