While the country has been jogging toward its new position on gay marriage, polling numbers show Texans appear to have been moseying along in the same direction.
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
Moody to Present One-Way Discovery Measure
State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, on Tuesday plans to present a revised version of his criminal discovery bill that would require only prosecutors to disclose information in criminal trials.
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Bidness As Usual
Judicial Donations Raise Questions of Partiality
Texas Supreme Court justices are elected by voters, and the campaign contributions they receive from law firms with an interest in their decisions have caused some to worry that justice is for sale.
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Criminal Justice
Updated: Prosecutors Tell Norwood Jury of Second Murder
Prosecutors in the murder trial of Mark Norwood on Friday presented evidence linking him to another killing in Austin. Earlier Friday, Norwood’s ex-wife took the stand and testified in front of jurors.
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Criminal Justice
Death Details, Gun Testimony Mark Third Day of Norwood Trial
On the third day of Mark Alan Norwood’s capital murder trial, prosecutors concluded their presentation of DNA evidence and presented more evidence that they say connects him to the 1986 murder of Christine Morton.
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Criminal Justice
Lawmakers Urge New Hearing in Death Penalty Case
More than 100 elected officials, religious officials and lawyers have sent a letter to the Harris County district attorney’s office urging a new hearing in the case of Duane Buck, who they say was unfairly sentenced to death because of an expert witness’s testimony.
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Criminal Justice
Christine Morton’s Brother Testifies in Norwood Trial
Christine Morton’s brother John Kirkpatrick testified Wednesday in the trial of Mark Norwood, who is accused of beating Morton to death in 1986. Kirkpatrick told jurors how he found the bandana that links Norwood to the crime.
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Criminal Justice
Gun Buyer Who Links Norwood to Morton Murder to Testify
A former Austin construction company owner who employed alleged murderer Mark Alan Norwood will tell jurors in a videotaped deposition this week that Norwood sold him a pistol that was stolen when Christine Morton was killed.
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Criminal Justice
Updated: Start of Murder Trial Brings Emotional, Graphic Testimony
The first full day of Mark Alan Norwood’s murder trial was marked by the emotional testimony and gory photos of the murder scene. It was also notable for the absence of any reference to Michael Morton’s wrongful conviction for the crime.
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Criminal Justice
Senate Committee Passes DNA Testing Bill
UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott is supporting a bill by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would require DNA testing of “all biological evidence” in cases where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.