The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
The proposed court would handle some of the state's most high-profile appeals, which are typically handled by the mostly Democrat 3rd Court of Appeals based in Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9cbca4f0c8e29067e2cc1fee7c977b15/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2009.jpg)
Riles has been deemed mentally incompetent for execution repeatedly in his decades on death row. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bbe71ba10f29b1bc51d8ff678f5c028b/Texas%20Court%20of%20Criminal%20Appeals%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Dewhurst ran against Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate and was ousted from his No. 2 spot in Texas government by Dan Patrick. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/27/DewhurstSpecial1.jpg)
Despite loud opposition from Democrats who said the legislation overstepped local governments, Senate Bill 23 passed with broad bipartisan support. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a32657f7daef3cf7714adbb0eb917ef/Austin%20Protest%20June%204%20EG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Though seven of the sheriff’s officers have been fired after initially being put on administrative leave and another resigned while under investigation, the family and protesters say they don’t plan to stop until the officers have been charged with a crime. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4822bcddef071157556d8f2366a146e/Marvin%20Scott%20III%20Rally%20ST%20TT%2017.jpg)
The shootings began at Kent Moore Cabinets, and one Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who was later shot is in serious, but stable condition. The shooting occurred the same day that President Joe Biden released a list of executive orders to address gun violence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81d704bfdf6d40d34e52b3ab2afb5a5e/Bryan%20Shooting%20KBTX%20TT.jpg)
Texas courts have long been criticized for keeping people in jail pending trial who can't afford to post bond. Two priority bills this session would change the bail system, but they're primarily aimed at keeping potentially dangerous defendants behind bars. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8703658ffc968d74d56cbe205d761390/03%20Bail%20Bonds%20MG%20TT.jpg)
Seven Collin County detention officers have been fired for their role in allegedly restraining Marvin Scott III, blasting him with pepper spray and placing a hood over his head as he suffered through what his family has described as a mental health emergency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2456d196c10dea6d36b6e980dbe5e8b7/Marvin%20Scott%20III%20Rally%20ST%20TT%2028.jpg)
The Tarrant County woman faces a five-year prison sentence for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election while on supervised release for a federal conviction. Her vote was never counted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/642ab6ae80513ba91aa94803dd0e15ca/05%20Crystal%20Mason%20LBS%20TT.jpg)
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Houston’s top cop, Art Acevedo, about why he’s leaving for Miami, police funding, constitutional carry, qualified immunity and what he really thinks of Greg Abbott and Sylvester Turner. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
Agency data shows officers are finding just as many drugs — and writing up even more prisoners for having them — despite the restrictions. Contraband is most often brought in by staff, according to prisoners and employees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8acfbded6bf2cf5379f4a9629a100148/Marshall%20Texas%20Contraband%20TT.jpg)
A provision that would remove police officers' legal shield against civil lawsuits has been pegged by multiple lawmakers as a sticking point in the Republican-led Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/288cd065ea6cb703b609a2514f35ba13/George%20Floyd%20ACT%20Captiol%20CH%20TT%2014.jpg)
Almost 2,000 vaccine doses have gone to qualifying prisoners as of Thursday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c238e8eb1bd841564a98c177eede36af/Texas_Prison_TT.jpg)
Texas has seen more mass shootings in the last two years than proven incidents of voter fraud, but legislators are more focused on election law than on gun violence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f0586a59c858d9b899360816df30791/02%20WalMart%20scene%20IPA%20TT.jpg)
North Texas remains a focus of the investigation into the Capitol insurrection after 19 local residents have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, according to federal authorities. That's one of the largest numbers in any place in the country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa9aaa37b6bf570fdc07fd39085750ac/Capitol%20Armed%20Protesters%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Thursday that Troy Finner, the HPD executive assistant chief, will succeed Acevedo as police chief. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/25/APrice-LawEnforcementPresser-2.jpg)
Almost a year after Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, was killed in Austin, Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot him, has been charged with murder. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/689f08837f0837c043706b112c840d17/ATX%20George%20Floyd%20Protest%20MG%20TT%2014.jpg)
State prisons shut down visitation last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/69df9e6ac06f7fbf1128db43e7238bb5/Huntsville%20SF%20TT%2001.jpg)
Beleaguered Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who attended the pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol siege, issued civil investigative demands to Twitter after the company banned the former president from its platform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f4904fd9be4486cf87db4f5ca2752f5/01%20Ken%20Paxton%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
The Texas Supreme Court’s new order follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he will lift a statewide mask mandate and many other coronavirus restrictions next week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68bf3c2d3f121d9fd226edf1377ba9f9/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)