The latest Texas Supreme Court news from The Texas Tribune.
Democrats argue the high court's pandemic-related decisions show GOP incumbents should be unseated in November. Republicans say the virus is another argument for sticking with the status quo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/00c8f6f1b4e7863f9b0389d6e06cdee3/Texas%20Justice%20Tour%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
The state is continuing to fight a Travis County district court's ruling that overrode Gov. Greg Abbott's order limiting counties to one absentee ballot drop-off location. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b4cb714cebf415f9a2bbb8e3e6a1420d/Mail-In%20Ballot%20Drop%20AI%20TT%2004.jpg)
A last-minute challenge by the Republican parties of Texas and Harris County argued the largely Democratic county's new drive-thru polling places were illegal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d412033a8ae769770716780e862c0d2d/Harris%20County%20Early%20Voting%20AM%20TT%2012.jpg)
Abbott, a former Texas Supreme Court justice himself, picked Huddle to serve on the all-Republican high court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/38903d7220f42886adada08eb1fd031a/Rebeca%20Huddle%20TT.jpg)
The elections administrator for the county, Texas' most populous and a critical stronghold for Democrats, has already sent the applications to voters 65 or over. The GOP Texas Supreme Court ruled he may not send them to the rest of the county's 2.4 million registered voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d938b75c82be121c236072f3003101b7/Mail%20in%20Ballot%20Form%20Voting%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Texas Supreme Court ruled against several GOP officials who pushed to keep early voting to a two-week period during the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b7165c3e050fbbc74f5086d530c0044/SATX%20Ballot%20Drop%20Off%20RJ%2004.jpg)
Voting and election cases are piled up in the courts in Texas, and the days between now and Nov. 3 are growing short. Some of the rules could change while we're voting. But vote anyhow. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/795dbdcda17d2dbfd6cc39176c03da38/July%2014%20Runoff%20Houston%20MS%20TT%2011.jpg)
If the U.S. Senate confirms a nominee of President Donald Trump, it could secure a conservative influence on the high court for a generation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f51a27ef4e1ff356b80e89239bfda165/Cruz_and_Cornyn_KAVANAUGH_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
The Supreme Court granted the Texas attorney general’s request to temporarily halt the county’s mailing of applications while the case is appealed. A separate order blocking the effort was set to end this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15cb105b44faa22de231c889b5899fd3/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2012.jpg)
Democrats successfully sued last month to remove from the ballot the Green Party nominees for U.S. Senate, Railroad Commission and the 21st Congressional District. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff98cd99712783bc01a1cea43ed73d1e/Green%20Party%20Shirts%20MS%20TT.jpg)
A Republican effort to knock 44 Libertarians off the ballot fell short, and that could have an outsize effect on close races in November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/987d0b81457b22a59cf499b7890928c3/July%2014%20Runoff%20Houston%20MS%20TT%2012.jpg)
The GOP sued because the Libertarians didn't pay their filing fees. But the state Supreme Court said Republicans missed the deadline to kick them off the ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/84154a9dcbeb90c1c831bfade55802c8/July%2014%20Runoff%20Houston%20MS%20TT%2027.jpg)
The state’s board of law examiners said in late July that test takers will be allowed to bring feminine hygiene products in clear plastic bags with them to the grueling, multiday exam that’s needed to obtain a law license. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58a64fe9bdc6b6ff7b048263fa4168df/Tampon%20Ban%20Sarah%20Riffel%20BP%20TT%2001.jpg)
Green's term ends Dec. 31, 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott will appoint his successor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b2ca22d4386ee78b254a804eb38840e/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20Paul%20Green%20EW%20TT%2020.jpg)
Wardlow had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that he was too young to get the Texas death penalty. His execution was the first in Texas to proceed during the pandemic as the coronavirus rages across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/46c56ab8b2090084a470aa5475938656/Death%20Row%20Photo%20TDCJ%20BW%20TT.jpg)
The order Thursday leaves in place Texas' more restrictive regulations for the upcoming July 14 runoff. But the case could return to the high court before November's general election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/925e66aa96f83bfe64e22b20ddc34d96/.nopescotus)
The Board of Law Examiners recommended Thursday that the Texas Supreme Court cancel both the July and September bar exams and schedule an online, October exam instead. The high court is expected to make the final decision Thursday afternoon. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b4d4bb3a2f67731b92f9f42a72d57fbd/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2010.jpg)
The high court let stand a lower court's ruling that Austin's paid sick leave ordinance is unconstitutional because it conflicts with the Texas Minimum Wage Act. Full Story
Evictions and debt collections have resumed, child care subsidies will be discontinued and those who are out of work will again have to prove they are searching for a job in order to receive unemployment benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/841bf359b804080ac0bd765ec8d88763/ATX%20Food%20Drive%20April%2030%20EG%20TT%2006.jpg)
If you were looking for voting-by-mail advice from the Texas Supreme Court, you're out of luck. The court ruled that the pandemic is no reason to expand voting by mail, but also that election officials don't have to check voter claims of disability. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c2420fb24a6823a29867356fe187b148/Mail%20in%20Ballot%20Form%20Voting%20MG%20TT%2005.jpg)