Texas

Judge who sanctioned ‘lazy lawyers in glass towers’ was too harsh, 5th Circuit rules for third time

For at least a third time, a federal appeals court has ruled that a federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas, was too quick to sanction lawyers or parties.

Nov 9, 2023 11:45 AM CST

$175M suit accuses BigLaw firm of ‘critical drafting errors’ and ‘sloppy and imprecise’ contract language

Two energy companies allege that Winston & Strawn bungled two intertwined contracts involving the purchase of Southern California oil and gas wells, leading the two clients to give up a 25% equity stake in their businesses while receiving nothing in return.

Nov 9, 2023 10:24 AM CST

Law firm of bankruptcy judge’s girlfriend did not make standard disclosure in at least 27 cases, report says

An analysis by Reuters has concluded that Texas bankruptcy law firm Jackson Walker failed to disclose whether it had checked for connections between its lawyers and judges in at least 27 cases.

Oct 31, 2023 3:40 PM CDT

May death row inmate reopen habeas case if lawyer abandons him? ABA urges SCOTUS to decide

The ABA has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of a death row inmate whose appointed habeas lawyer "functionally" abandoned him.

Oct 31, 2023 11:28 AM CDT

Missouri can’t ban enforcement of federal gun restrictions after Supreme Court denies emergency request

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday turned down an emergency request to reinstate a Missouri law that barred state officials from helping enforce federal gun laws.

Oct 23, 2023 3:34 PM CDT

Trump lawyer Sidney Powell agrees to write letter of apology as part of plea deal in election-interference case

Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty Thursday to six misdemeanors in the Georgia racketeering case alleging election interference by 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump.

Oct 19, 2023 11:19 AM CDT

SCOTUS will hear ‘backdoor censorship’ case of council member arrested for placing document in binder

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider what kind of evidence is needed to defeat a qualified immunity claim by government officials accused of engineering the retaliatory arrest of a new city council member who criticized the city manager.

Oct 16, 2023 3:40 PM CDT

Bankruptcy judge resigns after ethics complaint alleges undisclosed ‘intimate relationship’ with lawyer

A bankruptcy judge in Houston has resigned after an ethics complaint alleged that he had an “intimate relationship” with a lawyer who financially benefited from cases before him.

Oct 16, 2023 9:54 AM CDT

Law student, son of Buc-ee’s co-founder, arrested for alleged secret filming of house guests

A law student at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law is facing 28 counts of invasive visual recording for allegedly recording guests in bathrooms and bedrooms of homes in Texas and Colorado.

Oct 12, 2023 1:53 PM CDT

Texas bankruptcy judge questioned over relationship with local lawyer

A Texas bankruptcy judge has acknowledged being in a romantic relationship with a lawyer whose former law firm brought major cases before him.

Oct 11, 2023 12:29 PM CDT

Lawyer pleads guilty in ‘Ponzi-type scheme’ that cost his clients up to $65M

A former San Antonio lawyer has pleaded to federal charges for persuading his clients to deposit funds with him and then using the money for his benefit.

Oct 10, 2023 3:20 PM CDT

After US argues 5th Circuit ‘countermanded’ SCOTUS, Alito allows ‘ghost gun’ regulations, for now

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has temporarily allowed the Biden administration to enforce "ghost gun" regulations after the federal government that argued the lower courts had “effectively countermanded” a prior determination by the Supreme Court.

Oct 9, 2023 11:16 AM CDT

Southwestern Law School will accept applications to first-of-its-kind online JD program

Students who want to attend law school online and full time now have an option.

Oct 6, 2023 10:18 AM CDT

Biden plans to build part of border wall, says he was unable to redirect appropriated funds

President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday that he doesn’t think that a border wall is effective, but he is planning to build one anyway in Starr County, Texas.

Oct 5, 2023 2:59 PM CDT

5th Circuit takings ruling that breaks ‘Pottery Barn rule’ will be reviewed by US Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether Texas landowners can sue the state under the takings clause for flooding caused by highway reconstruction. “If there is one basic principle in property law, it’s the Pottery Barn rule: You break it, you buy it,” said Robert McNamara of the Institute for Justice, which is representing the plaintiff.

Oct 2, 2023 9:55 AM CDT