UPDATED: Williamson County state district Judge Ken Anderson has filed an appeal asking a court to rule that a warrant for his arrest should be void because it violates the statute of limitations.
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
Critics See Holes in Bill’s Border Security Strategy
Some Texas lawmakers and stakeholders are taking issue with aspects of the federal immigration reform bill filed last week, with some questioning why the measure was crafted without mechanisms to avoid a future inflow of illegal migration.
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Criminal Justice
House Shows Support for Innocence Commission Bill
UPDATED: The House on Tuesday endorsed a bill that would create a state panel to investigate wrongful convictions. Similar legislation has been defeated in the past, but this time it has drawn supporters many consider unlikely.
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Criminal Justice
As Execution Date Nears, Debate Continues Over Staffing at State Prisons
Officials of a prison workers’ union say that understaffing had a role in the 1999 murder of a correctional officer, who was fatally stabbed by an inmate. They say such issues continue to exist and put officers in danger today.
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Criminal Justice
Constitutionality of State Law Challenged in Sexual Assault Case
Attorneys presented oral arguments Wednesday at the Court of Criminal Appeals over whether Mark Fleming’s rights were violated because prosecutors didn’t have to prove he knew he was having sexual relations with a minor.
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Criminal Justice
Shannon K. O’Neil: The TT Interview
The senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations on immigration reform, security in Mexico, the country’s budding prosperity amid an escalating drug war, and what the United States needs to understand.
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Criminal Justice
Lawmakers Discuss Race-Related Evidence in Death Penalty Cases
Lawmakers on Tuesday debated a bill that would allow death row inmates to appeal their sentences if they believe that race played a role in their punishment.
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Criminal Justice
Bill Would End Diversion of Auto Theft Prevention Funds
A bill by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, would restore dedicated funds to a state agency that has helped recover 1.6 million stolen vehicles in Texas. In recent years, lawmakers diverted the funds to help balance the state budget.
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Criminal Justice
Report Urges Reduced Prostitution Punishment
A new report out Tuesday urges lawmakers to reduce penalties for prostitution and send more defendants to diversion and intervention programs. Advocates argue it will save the state money.
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Criminal Justice
Michael Morton Act Handily Passes Senate
Senators passed Senate Bill 1611, also known as the “Michael Morton Act,” which would require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense lawyers in criminal cases. The chamber erupted in applause following the vote.