The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Supreme Court is considering whether a legislative subpoena of a death row inmate infringed on the executive branch’s power to carry out the execution. Full Story
A Tyler-based federal judge ruled the administration overstepped its authority with the “Keeping Families Together” program. Texas and other states sued to halt it. Full Story
Republican judges won in 25 out of 26 contested races throughout the state in a show of the party’s broader strength up and down Tuesday’s ballot. Full Story
Randy Halprin was a member of a gang of prisoners known as the “Texas 7” who escaped from custody and killed an Irving police officer in 2000. Full Story
John Devine, Jane Bland and Jimmy Blacklock won their reelection bids over Democrat challengers backed by groups that support expanding abortion access. Full Story
Three new faces will join the bench, but the political balance of power will remain the same on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Full Story
After the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the federal government in the long-running water dispute, the states — which had finally worked out a water-sharing agreement — are back to the drawing board. Full Story
Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair. Full Story
The AG also said he’d make a criminal referral against the lawmaker, who apologized for texting a Court of Criminal Appeals judge about a new trial for the death row inmate. Full Story
Members of a Texas House committee say in a Texas Supreme Court filing that Paxton’s office is blocking the death row inmate from complying with a legislative subpoena. Full Story
The lawsuit claims the endangered designation for six mussel species is a misuse of environmental law that threatens Texas’ economy. Full Story
A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising. Full Story
Texas’ junk science statute has remained hamstrung for the last decade. So too have other criminal justice reforms, despite efforts from the Texas House. Full Story
Hazel Eileen Diaz received nearly $40,000 in cash and money transfers for letting human smugglers use her rental properties. Full Story
Despite objections from her family, John Devine oversees the trust of Elvie Kingston, a clear violation of Texas’ judicial ethics rules, experts said. His wife is also her legal guardian. Full Story
This artificial intelligence tool queries The Texas Tribune’s guides to help answer your questions about voting rules in 2024. Full Story
A federal judge said Texas’ “request to examine” statute amounts to unconstitutional search and seizure, Bloomberg reported. Full Story
Marcus Silva and the women agreed to drop lawsuits against each other just days before they were set to go to trial. Full Story
Todd Smith was indicted in 2022 on felony charges of theft and commercial bribery related to taking money in exchange for hemp licenses that are issued by Miller’s office. Full Story
Texas and other GOP-led states filed the lawsuit seeking to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which gives protection to more than 500,000 immigrants. Full Story