The suspended attorney general’s political origins and rise to power began in the suburban North Texas county. But every House member from the county voted to impeach him.
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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Texas Legislature 2023
Facing youth prison crisis, Texas lawmakers opt to build new facilities and funnel more kids to adult system
For more than a decade, Texas has been trying to slim down its youth prison system, which has been plagued by years of abuse scandals. This Legislature is reversing that course.
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Uvalde school shooting
Watch a documentary about the Uvalde shooting from The Texas Tribune, Frontline and Futuro Investigates
The film, “After Uvalde: Guns, Grief and Texas Politics,” was broadcast nationally on PBS and is also available for streaming on The Texas Tribune and Frontline’s websites.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Texas House names Ken Paxton impeachment managers; Senate trial will start by Aug. 28
Seven Republicans and five Democrats make up the board of managers who will handle the prosecution in the trial. In the Senate, a committee will recommend rules of procedure on June 20.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Republican priorities on school choice, border fail, but late-night compromises resurrect others
Rushed agreements and suspended rules rescue legislation on the electric grid and economic incentives for companies, and work is still being done on a property tax proposal.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Texas Legislature passes bill reining in “rogue” prosecutors
The GOP priority legislation could remove prosecutors from office if they don’t pursue certain crimes. The bill gained traction after some Democratic district attorneys said they would not prosecute abortion-related crimes.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached. Here’s how that process works in Texas.
Paxton is now suspended until the outcome of a trial in the Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott can now appoint someone to temporarily fill the vacancy.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Live updates: Now impeached, Ken Paxton blasts House vote
The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23, with three members absent.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Attorney General Ken Paxton blasts pending impeachment vote, calls for protests
Paxton said House members were showing “contempt for the electoral process” and accused them of sabotaging his work challenging the Biden administration.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Despite budget surplus, Texas Legislature makes little money available for prison air conditioning
Stifling heat has killed inmates and exacerbated employee turnover in Texas prisons. But funding for air conditioning was whittled down in the draft budget released Thursday.