The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Under the bill, any crime against either group that results in serious bodily injury would be a first-degree felony, which carries a sentence of up to 99 years or life in prison. Full Story
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Lara McDaniel was devastated when her 7-year-old son died in an accident. An investigator didn't allow her to see her child's body until three days after his death — after an autopsy had been conducted. Full Story
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Texas budget writers plan to spend another $800 million for border security over the next two years, matching what lawmakers allocated in 2015. Full Story
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The Texas Senate has approved its version of House Bill 3016, which would make it easier for people to apply for jobs if they have low-level offenses on their records. Such applicants would not be required to disclose their offenses. Full Story
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The state of Texas on Saturday moved one step closer to joining the large majority of states that consider sexual conduct between humans and animals or fowl a crime. Full Story
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Senate Bill 30 would require the groups to learn about the duties of law enforcement officers, civilians' rights and proper behavior during interactions. Full Story
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The bill would mandate that county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment, make it easier for defendants with a mental illness or intellectual disability to receive a personal bond and require that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths. Full Story
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The bill's author, state Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said he will concur with the Senate's changes. Full Story
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In a Houston Chronicle op-ed, Perry endorsed two measures moving through the Texas Legislature: one that would seal certain offenders' records and another that seeks to make the grand jury process more fair. Full Story
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Currently, parents need permission from a justice of the peace or medical examiner to see their deceased child if his or her death occurs outside a hospital or health care institution. Full Story
Legislation that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits has moved closer to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek. Her assailant shot at her several times outside her home, and she suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel. Full Story
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The House sponsor of the Senate's Sandra Bland Act won't try to change the bill's language, after key provisions were taken out in the upper chamber. Full Story
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A federal grand jury handed state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, two indictments Tuesday: one for his involvement in a now-bankrupt company accused of misleading investors and another for alleged bribery surrounding a government contract. Full Story
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Following the signing of a controversial “sanctuary cities” ban last week, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday the law would not open the door for people to get “pulled over and detained.” Full Story
Senate Bill 12, by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, would create and fund a bulletproof vest grant program to outfit approximately 50,000 officers with vests that can withstand rounds from high-caliber firearms. Full Story
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The proposal, Senate Bill 16 by state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the annual renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
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Since January 2000, 79 peace officers in Texas have been shot and killed in the line of duty. For its mini-doc series, “Fallen,” KXAN-TV researched the background of each killer to find common themes — commonly, mental illness. Full Story
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A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge. Full Story
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House Bill 2583 would charge anyone who shoots a gun without an intended target with a Class A misdemeanor — or a first-degree felony if a serious bodily injury or death occurs as a result. Full Story
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