The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
A legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that facilitating state employees' donations to Planned Parenthood falls under a 2019 state law prohibiting government entities from entering into "taxpayer resource transactions" with abortion providers or their affiliates. Full Story
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Four progressive members of the City Council are pushing the proposal, which needs two more votes to pass. Full Story
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The White House called the initial decision to block on the use of military funds for the border wall "illegitimate" and hailed the appeals court decision as a victory. Full Story
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The pop star's contract with the city — long hidden by what critics described as gaping holes in the state's open-records laws — became public this week after new legislation governing the public's right to know went into effect. Full Story
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The Texas 2020 primary will take place on March 3. See the full list of candidates statewide, and find out who's on your ballot based on where you live. Full Story
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The Texas billionaire wanted U.S. courts to throw out a hefty judgment won against him in Morocco. The law wasn’t on DeJoria’s side. So Texas legislators changed it. Full Story
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The environmental group is trying to obtain documents showing how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality arrived at a decision on increasing emissions limits for a toxic chemical. Full Story
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A panel on the conservative-leaning U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the lawsuit back to a district court in Texas to reassess how much of the Affordable Care Act can stand if the individual mandate must fall. Full Story
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Fierro was sentenced to death in El Paso in 1980 for the murder of a taxi driver. Full Story
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During Hurricane Harvey, thousands of properties behind two federally owned reservoirs flooded. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Federal Claims ruled that the government was liable for the flooding and that property owners are eligible for damages. Full Story
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Dianne Hensley, who received a warning last month from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, will be represented by First Liberty Institute, a high-profile religious liberty law firm with close ties to the Texas Attorney General's Office. Full Story
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The Houston region’s Community Health Choice and San Antonio’s Community First Health plans are suing the state, saying the law promises them a piece of roughly $10 billion in Medicaid contracts. Full Story
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After those two appointees left the commission, it handed down just a warning to the judge, Dianne Hensley. Full Story
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A judge blocked an ordinance that would provide paid sick leave for employees who work in the city of San Antonio starting Dec. 1. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune takes a look at Reed's case as it is sent back to the local court, which will review claims that he is innocent of the murder that put him on death row. Full Story
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Dozens of lawmakers — both Republicans and Democrats — have asked Gov. Greg Abbott and the parole board to stop Reed's execution. There are also multiple appeals in the courts. Full Story
The depth of the bench for non-marquee statewide races, like the state’s two high courts and the Railroad Commission, is a measure of how high Democratic hopes have soared ahead of the 2020 election. Full Story
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A U.S. Border Patrol Agent in El Paso fired across the border and killed a Mexican teen in 2010. The justices will decide whether the teen's family can sue the U.S. government. Full Story
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Amid confusion over the state’s mandatory retirement law, a state official confirmed to the Democratic Party months ago that the race for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 6 would appear on the 2020 ballot. It probably won't. Full Story
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About 222,140 Texans ages 60 and older had student loan debt in 2017, carrying a median load of $15,754, according to government data. Full Story
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