Adam Kelly Ward, whom appeals courts recognized as mentally ill, was executed Tuesday evening for the 2005 shooting death of a code enforcement officer.
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
Cuban Refugees Continue Flocking to Texas Border
Even as President Obama moves to normalize relations, Cuban refugees continue pouring into Texas through Laredo in record numbers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Contractors Must Use E-Verify, AG Says
State agencies and the companies they contract with must use the E Verify system to screen for undocumented workers, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in an opinion Thursday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Judge: Lawyer for Fired Trooper Must Offer Better Reason To Delay Sandra Bland Lawsuit
A federal judge on Thursday said attorneys for fired Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia haven’t yet offered a good enough reason to keep a civil rights lawsuit filed by the mother of Sandra Bland from moving forward.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In Texas Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee May Draw Attention for EPA Rulings
D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland has a history with cases involving the Environmental Protection Agency, which Texas has sued 24 times since Obama took office.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Survey Captures Security Fears Among Judges
A survey taken after Travis County state District Judge Julie Kocurek was shot last fall in the driveway of her Austin home found that hundreds of Texas judges have feared for their safety at least once in the last two years.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Voices from the Border: Illegal Crossings and Deportations
Every month, busloads of deported undocumented immigrants arrive at the southern border, returning to Mexico after serving prison time in the United States. Meanwhile, other migrants prepare to attempt illegal border crossings. This story is part of our “Bordering on Insecurity” series.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Conviction Integrity Units Expand Beyond Lone Star State Roots
Dallas County established the first conviction integrity unit in the United States in 2007. Now there are 24 such units across the country that work to identify and correct false convictions.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Whitmire: Assault Rifle Used in Office Shooting
State Sen. John Whitmire said Thursday afternoon he believes the gun used in the predawn shooting of his Houston area-office was likely an AR-15 assault rifle. He said it’s too early to speculate about a motive or possible suspect.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Nearly 3 Years Later, Program to Drug Test Unemployed Not in Place
Nearly three years after Texas enacted a law requiring some applicants for unemployment benefits to pass a drug test, the state has yet to test a single applicant, and it remains unclear when the program will get going.
