More than a month after the Austin Police Department was forced to abruptly shut down its DNA testing lab, it remains unclear whether any criminal convictions will be thrown out because of improper testing.
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
Only One Private Texas University Adopting Campus Carry
Starting Monday, licensed college students, faculty and visitors across Texas will be allowed to carry their concealed guns into campus buildings thanks to a new state law. But that right will be mostly limited to public schools.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
At UT, Debut of Texas Gun Law Intersects with Tower Shooting Anniversary
Aug. 1 is an important day on the University of Texas at Austin campus for two reasons: It’s the first day people will be allowed to carry guns into Texas university buildings, and it’s the 50th anniversary of the UT Tower shooting.
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Criminal Justice
Paxton Sues to Get Guns Into Austin City Hall
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the city of Austin in Travis County district court, trying to force the city to comply with his reading of the state’s open carry law and let license holders openly carry handguns in city hall.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
Evoking Charles Whitman: The UT Tower Shooting in Film
The University of Texas Tower shooting was a first of its kind. Here’s how the tragedy has been depicted in film and TV.
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Criminal Justice
Latino Voters in Texas Sue to Bolster Influence on Electing Judges
Seeking to bolster their chronically sparse representation on the state’s highest courts, seven Latino voters are suing Texas to challenge the state’s longtime method of electing judges statewide.
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Criminal Justice
Report Finds Almost 7,000 In-Custody Deaths in Texas
Almost 7,000 individuals in Texas have died in police custody or behind bars over the past 10 years, according to an online report released Wednesday by a University of Texas at Austin research institute. Nearly 2,000 of them had not been convicted of a crime.
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Criminal Justice
Gun Violence and Mental Health, 50 Years After UT Tower Sniper Attack
After shootings like the one in Dallas this month, or the sniper attack 50 years ago at the University of Texas at Austin, people often wonder if there’s a link between gun violence and mental illness. The link might not be what you thought.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After Tower Shooting, UT Pioneered Services to Heal and Defend Campuses
Before the UT tower shooting, a mass public shooting at a school campus was unheard of. The events of the summer of 1966 forever changed how schools handle emergencies and address tragedies.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Higher Education
The Armed Civilian Who Helped Stop UT’s Tower Sniper 50 Years Ago
When Charles Whitman went to the top of the University of Texas Tower and started shooting on Aug. 1, 1966, dozens of people grabbed their rifles and tried to stop him. But only Allen Crum made it to the top of the tower with police that day.
