The U.S. Department of Justice also agreed to drop its appeal of a lawsuit in which a judge found the military mostly at fault for the 2017 mass shooting at a church.
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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Foster Care in Texas
How a 12-year-old federal lawsuit turned a judge into Texas’ foster care czar
As Judge Janis Jack continues to threaten contempt-of-court fines in a federal lawsuit against the state’s foster care system, advocates say the case has moved the needle on reform — but it has come with a hefty price tag.
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Politics
Nate Paul, real estate investor in Paxton corruption allegations, ordered to jail again after losing appeal
The Austin real estate developer is central to allegations that his friend, Attorney General Ken Paxton, abused his office to help Paul’s business affairs.
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Politics
Llano County officials must offer library books they’d removed, judge orders
Local officials are appealing the order in a lawsuit that drew national attention. Seven library patrons say the book removals infringed their First Amendment rights.
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Health care
Federal judge in Texas strikes down key ACA provision regarding preventive care services
A federal judge in Texas found the appointment of the volunteer body issuing preventive care requirements, unlawful.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Texas Republicans, once allied with prosecutors, seek to rein them in
Some local district and county attorneys have said they will not pursue abortion-related cases, or prioritize certain drug, property and election crimes.
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Politics
Houston GOP activist knew for years of child sex abuse claims against Southern Baptist leader, law partner
Under oath, outspoken anti-gay activist Jared Woodfill said he was told in 2004 that Paul Pressler had sexually abused a minor. But Woodfill did not cut ties with the Southern Baptist leader — and said he had no knowledge of Pressler’s alleged behavior when another young man came forward about alleged sexual misconduct in 2016.
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TribCast
TribCast: Will the Texas Legislature pay Ken Paxton’s legal settlement?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James about lawmakers’ reluctance to spend $3.3 million on a whistleblower settlement for Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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Texas Abortion Restrictions
How an old law found new life in lawsuit seeking to revoke approval of abortion pill
Anti-abortion advocates are trying to revive the long-dormant 1873 Comstock Act, which banned mailing of anything related to abortion or contraception, in a lawsuit about mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug.
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Criminal Justice
In rural counties, Texas law puts low-income defendants at a disadvantage
A two-tiered system gives less populated counties more time to provide court-appointed lawyers, requiring creative responses to a long-standing problem.