The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
The judges are under a federal court order to release low-level defendants without collecting bail payment after the county's cash bail practices were found unconstitutional. The governor's Sunday order does not allow those accused of low-level crimes to leave jail without access to cash if they have a past violent conviction. Full Story
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As health care professionals beg for supplies to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection, a Texas company found a seller with at least 2 million masks and quietly offered them for sale at $6 each. Before the pandemic, they cost around $1. Full Story
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The court granted abortion providers’ motion to temporarily block the state from enforcing the order, which was set to expire April 21, as it relates to abortions. Full Story
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Families are stuck at home, confronting stress and fear. And with many schools and day care centers shuttered, child welfare workers can't rely on teachers to help detect abuse. Full Story
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Courts have slowed across the state, and jury trials are on hold. Defense attorneys worry the outbreak could leave their clients sitting in jail waiting for justice — and vulnerable to catching the virus. Full Story
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Women got more votes than men in all of the roughly 30 gender-split primary contests for high court, court of appeals and district court. Rarely was it even close. Full Story
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In a federal lawsuit filed in Laredo, Democrats claim the move to end straight-ticket voting is unconstitutional and intentionally discriminates against Hispanic and black voters. Full Story
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The high court is likely to take up the landmark health law for the third time this fall and issue a decision in 2021. Full Story
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A PAC with close ties to Perry is backing Gina Parker’s campaign to oust incumbent Judge Bert Richardson in the GOP primary. Full Story
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Center took a $100,000 bribe in exchange for marking a prospective student a tennis recruit. The student had no background in tennis and left the team shortly after being accepted into the university. Full Story
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After losing a case at the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, millionaire Salem Abraham set out to mathematically test the idea that campaign contributions influence the elected justices. Now he wants to change the system. Full Story
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Fourteen Democrats are competing for seven seats on the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals. How do you win when no one knows your name? Full Story
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An anti-abortion group and conservative elected officials have framed Tinslee Lewis' case as a "right to life" issue. But medical experts say continuing care is hurting the baby and doctors need protections to make these kinds of decisions. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Emma, Cassi and Alex about what state Sen. Kirk Watson's retirement could mean for the Senate, Bernie Sanders' new lead in presidential polling in Texas and a Democratic judicial candidate's sexist comments about his opponent. Full Story
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Jerry Zimmerer, an appellate judge in Houston, said his campaign differs from Amy Clark Meachum's because “I actually want the best candidate to win.” Full Story
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An administrative hearing into whether Mike Feinberg can keep his Texas educator certificate turned into a de facto trial over the sexual abuse allegation that led to his dismissal from the charter network he co-founded in the 1990s. Full Story
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After Texas passed a law in 2017 allowing foster care agencies to cite sincerely held religious beliefs to deny placements to gay couples, California banned state-funded travel to the Lone Star State. Full Story
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The attorney general's office is charged with defending state agencies when they are challenged in court. But Paxton will not defend a commission sued after it issued a public warning for a Waco judge who refuses to perform same-sex marriages. Full Story
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A new commission had barely begun to study Texas' partisan judicial election system when the leader of the Texas Senate signaled skepticism of reform. Full Story
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The state won the first round on a technicality. Now disenfranchised voters are again asking that they be allowed to complete their voter registrations through the online driver's license portal. Full Story
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