Criminal defense lawyers who have led the fight against reciprocal discovery proposals in Texas are renewing their battle cries. The lawyers say the measure is unnecessary, expensive and wouldn’t prevent wrongful convictions.
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
Lawmakers Urged to Protect Businesses That Hire Ex-Prisoners
Amid a broader legislative push to help former prisoners re-enter society, state lawmakers on Monday were encouraged to limit the legal liability of businesses that hire ex-prisoners.
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Criminal Justice
Years After Innocence Finding, Inmate Remains in Prison for 1987 Murder
A Dallas County judge in 2008 found Ben Spencer innocent of the 1987 robbery and murder for which he is serving a life sentence. The state’s highest court disagreed, though, and this month he will mark 26 years behind bars.
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Criminal Justice
Ellis, Duncan File Compromise Criminal Discovery Bill
Two state senators filed a measure on Friday that they hope will bring more transparency to criminal trials and prevent wrongful convictions by requiring prosecutors and defense lawyers to share information.
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Criminal Justice
Legislature May Restrict Use of Cell Phone Records by Law Enforcement
Texas lawmakers are considering a bill filed by Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, that would require police and prosecutors to prove there is a probable cause of illegal activity before obtaining suspects’ cell phone records.
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Criminal Justice
Lawmaker Hopes to Reverse Law That Makes Penny Theft a Felony
Texas legislators accidentally increased the penalty for theft of a penny to a state jail felony in 2011. Now, a lawmaker hopes to fix the statute, which was aimed at copper thieves.
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Criminal Justice
Updated: Chief Justice Pushes for “Innocence Commission”
Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson pushed lawmakers to establish a commission to investigate wrongful convictions at his biannual State of the Judiciary speech on Wednesday.
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Criminal Justice
Ellis Bill Would Restrict Death Penalty for Intellectually Disabled
State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and other advocates want a new law to ensure that Texas doesn’t execute offenders who are intellectually disabled. Prosecutors say the existing law already does that.
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Criminal Justice
Report Backs Push for Board to Oversee Prisons
The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition has released a report calling on lawmakers to approve several bills that would increase supervision over the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which oversees the state’s prisons.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Video: Bill Increases Punishment in Hit-and-Run Cases
A bill in the Texas Senate would make the penalty for failing to stop and render aid in certain hit-and-run cases equal to that of intoxication manslaughter. It’s a move lawmakers and law enforcement hope causes more drivers to do the right thing and stay put.
