The school sought to leave the church because of differences over gay marriage and clergy. The court did not decide whether SMU could be prevented from separating.
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.
Texas can require porn websites to verify usersโ ages, Supreme Court rules
The case involves a 2023 state law requiring adult websites to verify usersโ ages, but the ruling is expected to have broader implications for free speech law.
Gov. Greg Abbott, AG Ken Paxton do not have to release Uvalde or Jan. 6 emails, Texas Supreme Court rules
The decision, stemming from a 2022 lawsuit, narrows the publicโs legal options to challenge Texas officials under the stateโs open records law.
Fate of birthright citizenship order unresolved after Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions
The ruling was a partial victory for President Donald Trump who has made immigration his signature issue.
U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Texas death row inmate pushing for DNA evidence tests
Ruben Gutierrez is challenging the constitutionality of a state law that restricts death row inmates from seeking tests that he says will prove heโs not a murderer.
Top Paxton deputy accused of witness tampering during impeachment trial
In dueling lawsuits, current and former employees of the attorney generalโs office sling allegations that threaten to intrude on Paxtonโs U.S. Senate bid.
San Antonio cannot fund trips for abortion, court rules
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city in April after it approved $100,000 to help residents travel out of the state for abortions.
Texasโ abortion bans are here to stay despite narrow clarification
Legal challenges have failed, elections havenโt moved the needle and the fight for a narrow clarification shows how immovable these laws are.
Trumpโs use of Enemy Aliens Act against alleged gang members is illegal, El Paso judge rules
The judgeโs order prohibits the federal government from using the act to deport people in a large swath of Texas who are accused of being Tren de Aragua members. But the ruling did not order anyoneโs release from custody.
Texasโ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusion
Experts say Wednesdayโs action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a โcollusive lawsuit,โ where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome.


