State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, has been placed under the protection of the Texas Department of Public Safety after getting death threats following his filing of a bill to criminalize abortion in Texas.
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
Here are four key criminal justice issues in the Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers are likely to take a close look this legislative session at how law enforcement and civilians interact with each other.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Trump’s travel ban leads to immigrant detainments at Texas airports
Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries led to the detainment of several travelers at Texas airports.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Two sharply different portrayals of Border Patrol agent at murder trial
Devoted public servant who protected the nation’s borders and erred only by helping out his family? Or leader of a drug- and gun-trafficking enterprise? Those were the two portraits that emerged of Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna at his two-week murder trial. Now, a jury will decide his fate as early as Monday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
With executions down, will the death penalty disappear?
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?
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.
