Texas

Top Texas court rejects case, then agrees to hear it after appellant donates $250K to reelection PAC

In October, the Apache Corp., a Houston oil company, was unable to persuade the Texas Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a paralegal’s retaliation award of about $900,000 in damages and attorney fees.

Jul 26, 2021 10:39 AM CDT

Judge permits prosecutors to use facial recognition to open accused Capitol rioter’s laptop

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday granted a Department of Justice request to place an accused U.S. Capitol rioter in front of his laptop to unlock the device with facial recognition.

Jul 23, 2021 10:56 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: $26B opioid settlement proposed; lawyer resigns after he’s accused of nude cleaning proposal

Proposed $26B opioid settlement announced A group of state attorneys general have announced a proposed $26 billion settlement between states and four companies that make and distribute opioids. Johnson & Johnson is among the companies that would be released from liability as result of the settlement, which requires it to…

Jul 21, 2021 4:25 PM CDT

5th Circuit allows chaplain prayers in Texas court during appeal of establishment clause ruling

A federal judge likely erred when he banned chaplain prayers in a Texas courtroom, a federal appeals court ruled earlier this month.

Jul 21, 2021 12:40 PM CDT

Why a federal judge ruled against the DACA program protecting some immigrants from deportation

President Joe Biden said Saturday the U.S. Department of Justice will appeal a judge’s determination that the Obama administration exceeded its authority when it moved to protect immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

Jul 19, 2021 10:07 AM CDT

Abortion providers sue judicial officials over citizen-enforced Texas abortion law

Several abortion rights advocates and providers have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Texas law that permits private citizens to sue doctors, clinics and anyone else who knowingly helps a pregnant person get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Jul 15, 2021 9:30 AM CDT

Texas AG agrees to stop blocking Twitter users for ‘First Amendment-protected viewpoints’

The Texas attorney general has agreed to stop blocking critics on social media after a group of them alleged in court he was violating their free-speech rights.

Jul 13, 2021 9:55 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: US lawyer sentenced in Hong Kong tussle; Air Force at fault in mass shooting

US lawyer in Hong Kong sentenced to prison Samuel Bickett, a U.S. lawyer in Hong Kong, has been sentenced to four months and two weeks in jail for intervening when he saw a man attacking a commuter. The man Bickett confronted turned out to be an off-duty police officer trying…

Jul 9, 2021 4:24 PM CDT

Citizen plaintiffs can sue to enforce Texas fetal heartbeat bill; could Uber drivers be liable?

A new Texas law that bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat has an unusual enforcement provision: Private citizens can sue abortion providers and others who knowingly help pregnant women violate the restrictions.

Jul 9, 2021 11:52 AM CDT

Mandatory bar in Texas violates lawyers’ First Amendment rights, 5th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the mandatory state bar in Texas violates lawyers’ First Amendment rights because of its political and ideological activities.

Jul 6, 2021 10:55 AM CDT

Sex-trafficking victims can sue Facebook for allegedly facilitating their recruitment, top Texas court says

A federal law protecting websites that publish third-party content doesn’t insulate Facebook from sex-trafficking lawsuits that are based on a state statute, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled.

Jun 30, 2021 9:26 AM CDT

Supreme Court will decide whether ban on some digital billboards violates First Amendment

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether Austin, Texas, violated the First Amendment when it allowed digital billboards on properties of businesses but not elsewhere.

Jun 28, 2021 2:06 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Derek Chauvin sentenced; judge won’t toss climate change suit

Chauvin sentenced for George Floyd’s death A Minnesota judge on Friday sentenced fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to 22.5 years years in prison for killing George Floyd with a knee to his neck. Judge Peter Cahill of Hennepin County, Minnesota, said he was basing the sentence in part on…

Jun 25, 2021 3:41 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS overturns another agency structure; corporate diversity suit allowed

Supreme Court rules FHFA structure is unconstitutional The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is unconstitutional because its director can only be removed by a U.S. president for cause. The decision will allow President Joe Biden to replace the Trump appointee leading…

Jun 23, 2021 4:21 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Dechert associate wins ‘Jeopardy!’ and fans’ hearts; judge sides with hospital requiring vaccines

Dechert associate wins over Jeopardy! fans Dechert associate Julia Markham Cameron won over Jeopardy! fans with her quirky facial expressions during an appearance earlier this month in which she won more than $16,000. “It’s certainly not what I thought I would be known for at this stage in my career.…

Jun 14, 2021 4:29 PM CDT