Barratry charges against state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, were dropped on Wednesday following allegations of misconduct by the investigator who pursued the case against him.
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
Court Reverses Death Row Inmate’s 2003 Conviction
Death row inmate Nelson Gongora’s conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court, which said that a prosecutor’s comments regarding his decision to not testify denied him a right to a fair trial.
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Criminal Justice
Border Officials: Federal Budget Inaction Could Weaken Security, Trade
“The border is safe.” That’s a common refrain from lawmakers who say the unprecedented buildup of law enforcement in the region has netted positive results. But as sequestration looms, lawmakers say federal inaction could put that reality in jeopardy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Acquittal Issued in Murder Case Based Largely on Scent Lineups
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday issued an acquittal in the case of Megan Winfrey, 24, who has been behind bars since 2007 in a murder case in which her conviction was based almost entirely on evidence from dog-scent lineups.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
Trouble in Mind: The Andre Thomas Story
This six-part series explores the intersections of the mental health and criminal justice systems in Texas, examining the case of Andre Thomas, a death row inmate who awaits a court decision on whether he is sane enough for execution.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Report: Open Discovery Policies Could Thwart Wrongful Convictions
Widely variable discovery practices in Texas makes access to justice dependent upon where a defendant is charged, according to a report released Wednesday, giving weight to bills that would create uniform discovery procedures.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Whitmire Bill Aims to Increase Prosecutor Accountability
In the wake of Michael Morton’s high-profile exoneration, state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, filed a bill Tuesday that aims to ensure more accountability for prosecutors who are accused of withholding evidence.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmakers Debate Texting-While-Driving Ban
Lawmakers on Tuesday took their first crack at a bill designed to ban texting while driving, including reviewing statistics suggesting that bans in other states have not reduced accidents and are difficult to enforce.
Posted in
Trouble in Mind
Andre Thomas: Questions of Competence, Justice
Andre Thomas’ case raises critical questions about how the justice system deals with mentally ill defendants who commit heinous crimes and whether they should be exempt from the death penalty.
Posted in
Trouble in Mind
Andre Thomas: A Struggle for Sanity Behind Bars
Andre Thomas is among thousands of mentally ill inmates in a sprawling state prison system that is struggling to keep pace with the increasing need for mental health care. Medical staff say they need more state funding.
