The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
Amid efforts by the Legislature to address immediate pension crises in Houston and Dallas, some see an opportunity to push for a sea change in how cities fund pensions. Critics predict such a move could drive first responders away in droves. Full Story
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Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially blocked Texas' attempted import of execution drugs. Now, Texas is fighting back in court. Full Story
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Mike Rawlings says he's trying to protect taxpayers as he opposes bill aimed at fixing shortfall. But first responders say he could exacerbate a shortage of police officers and firefighters. Full Story
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Stockman's lawyer says he needs until January 2018 to review 142,378 pages of evidence, apparently gathered by the government over the past three and a half years. Full Story
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawyers are not giving up in their bid to get a new judge in his securities fraud case after the current judge ordered the case moved from Collin County, where Paxton lives, to Harris County. Full Story
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U.S. Supreme Court justices Monday expressed concerns about the caseload federal appeals courts might see if they allow Texas death row inmate Erick Davila another chance in a lower court because of an error his lawyer made in the appeals process. Full Story
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With lethal injection drugs in short supply across the nation and increasing secrecy about providers, The Texas Tribune is keeping track of movement in the state’s supply. Full Story
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The "Raise the Age" bill, would move 17-year-old offenders from the adult criminal justice system to its juvenile justice counterpart beginning 2021. Full Story
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final ruling Thursday evening banning Texas' attempted import of an execution drug from overseas. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court, including its newest justice, Neil Gorsuch, will decide on a legal technicality in the case of a Fort Worth man who killed a 5-year-old girl and her grandmother. Full Story
A federal appeals court this week ordered the state to pay more than $600,000 in legal fees to two same-sex marriage couples who sued Texas over its now-defunct same-sex marriage ban. Full Story
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Senate Bill 12 would create a grant program that would pay for bulletproof vests for all patrol officers in Texas. Full Story
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Five death penalty bills were heard in a seven-hour-long meeting at the Capitol Monday night. Full Story
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Judge George Gallagher will remain on the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a spokeswoman for the judge. Full Story
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Houston and Dallas leaders were supposed to each be united on how they wanted state lawmakers to address their respective pension shortfalls before the legislative session even began. (Spoiler alert: They're still not.) Full Story
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Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston says a bill that would raise the age of adult criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18 years old fails to address his chief concerns: cost and safety. Full Story
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Police are investigating an incident in which they found two copies of the Muslim holy book in a men's bathroom at the University of Texas at Dallas. Full Story
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Some sexual assault survivors and advocates are clashing with a Texas senator over the best way to combat sexual assault on college campuses. Full Story
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Attorney General Ken Paxton's newly relocated trial on securities fraud charges is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. Full Story
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In Texas, the tiny number of successful prosecutions leave both victims and lawmakers questioning state’s commitment to punishing hate. Full Story
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