As Texas waits on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule, the state highest civil court ruled Friday that the Texas attorney general’s office tried too late to stop a divorce between a couple married in Massachusetts.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
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Criminal Justice
Prosecutor: Grand Jury to Hear Paxton Case in July
A case against Attorney General Ken Paxton is heading to a grand jury next month, according to one of the special prosecutors investigating him.
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Criminal Justice
When Home is a Post Office Box
The home address listed on a Texas driver’s license used to be one of the best tools police had to track people down, serve warrants or notify next-of-kin when someone died. But no more in this job-hopping, mobile culture.
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Criminal Justice
Preying on Prisoners: When Texas Guards Demand Sex
Since 2000, the Texas prison system has referred nearly 400 cases of staff sex crimes against inmates to prosecutors. Prosecutors refused to pursue almost half of those cases. Of 126 prison workers convicted, just nine were sentenced to serve time.
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Criminal Justice
More Judges Sought for Immigration Backlog
The backlog of immigration cases from Texas has grown almost 60 percent in two years. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, is trying to get Congress to cough up funding for 55 more immigration judges and staff to help overloaded courts across the country.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
Catch Up on Law & Order Issues From This Session
During the 84th legislative session, lawmakers passed open carry and campus carry legislation and voted to make cannabis oil available to epilepsy patients. Find more details on these and other law and order issues on the Texas Legislative Guide.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott Signs Bill to Limit Pollution Lawsuits
Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation that could make it tougher for local governments to sue big-time polluters – an effort that largely targets Harris County prosecutors.
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Criminal Justice
Massengale to Challenge Lehrmann for Supreme Court Seat
Houston appeals court judge Michael Massengale said Tuesday he will challenge Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann in next year’s Republican primary.
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Criminal Justice
Texas, Petroleum Industry Broaden Their Lawsuits Against Denton
The Texas Oil and Gas Association and the state’s General Land Office have expanded the scope of their lawsuits against Denton. Both are taking aim at the city’s moratorium on new gas drilling in addition to the toothless fracking ban still on its books.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Demographics
Get a Closer Look at Texas’ Death Row
There are currently 261 inmates living on death row in Texas, the state with the most active execution chamber by far. Use this interactive to search through these men and women by the length of their stay, race, age and sex.
