Analysts and lawmakers say Mexico’s recent decision to change the access that U.S. law enforcement agencies have in that country should not be considered a slap in the face. But the strong ties between the two nations could be impacted.
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.
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Criminal Justice
King Pulls Measure on Public Integrity Unit Oversight
State Rep. Phil King on Tuesday pulled an amendment that would transfer power over the state’s public integrity away from Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg. But King said he has the support to attach it to future bills.
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Criminal Justice
House Backs Prison Bill That Diverges From Senate Measure
The House on Monday approved a bill that allows the state’s sprawling prison system to continue operations but doesn’t specifically shutter two privately operated lockups that legislators in the upper chamber have voted to close.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Campus Carry, School Marshal Bills Get Final House Approval
A handful of gun rights expansion bills debated over the weekend received final passage in the House Monday, including two measures that could impact how students of Texas colleges, universities and public schools see firearms carried and used on campus.
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Criminal Justice
Campus Carry, School Marshals Get Early OK at House “Gun Day”
Texas colleges, universities and public schools could see more firearm-carrying students or authorities under two gun rights expansion bills that got preliminary approval in the House on Saturday.
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Criminal Justice
At NRA Convention, Cruz and Perry Blast Gun Control Efforts
Members of the National Rifle Association gathered in Houston on Friday at their annual convention to listen to a wide array of national figures — but it was Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz who got the warmest welcomes.
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Criminal Justice
House Committee Votes to Protect Immigrant Victims, Witnesses From Status Inquiry
In what some consider a dramatic shift from the anti-immigration rhetoric that dominated the state Capitol just two years ago, a House committee on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would protect immigrant victims of and witnesses to crimes.
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Criminal Justice
Lawsuit Says Prison Company Not Complying With Records Request
A private company that runs 12 of the state’s prison facilities is being sued by a publication that says the company is failing to release information related to deaths and health care at the Dawson State Jail in Dallas.
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Criminal Justice
Law Enforcement Officials Raise Concerns About Drone Bill
State Rep. Lance Gooden’s bill to prevent unmanned drones from capturing indiscriminate surveillance — a measure that has more than 80 co-authors in the House — is facing opposition from some law enforcement officials.
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Criminal Justice
House Panel Hears Testimony on “Michael Morton Act”
Just more than a week after the arrest of former prosecutor Ken Anderson, a committee of House lawmakers took up the “Michael Morton Act,” which would require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense lawyers in criminal cases.