Texas counties are trying to kill an effort to allow public access to court records from all 254 counties through an online portal, and they’ve found friendly ears in the Legislature.
Nathan L. Hecht
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Rising criticism threatens one-punch voting in Texas
Most states have dropped straight-ticket voting, but not Texas. There’s another attempt coming in the current legislative session, and it’s got some high-level supporters.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Hecht on U.S. Supreme Court “Lawlessness”
At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court addressed the recent pushback against the “lawlessness” of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unelected jurists.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Video: Hecht on the School Finance Case
At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court talked about the timing of a possible ruling on the state’s appeal in the school finance lawsuit.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Video: A Conversation with Nathan Hecht
Full video of my 10/29 conversation with Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Should We Take Judges Out of the Fundraising Business?
The U.S. Supreme Court says it’s okay for states to bar judges from raising their own campaign cash. A lot of judges (and lawyers, too) think that’s a pretty good idea that Texas might want to consider.
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Energy
The Brief: Feb. 18, 2015
State Rep. José Menéndez handily won election to the state Senate after a high-dollar, contentious race against House colleague Trey Martinez Fischer.
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Health care
The Brief: Oct. 22, 2014
Criticism by state leaders of the Obama administration for failures in the response to the Ebola virus omits mention of the tools at the state’s disposal that were not used.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Liveblog: The Justice Track at The Texas Tribune Festival
We’re liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival’s Justice track. The sessions include panels on criminal justice reform, the Texas Supreme Court, same-sex marriage and the death penalty.
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Criminal Justice
In Supreme Court Races, a Clash Over Contributors
Three Texas Supreme Court justices up for re-election face GOP primary challenges. Backers of the incumbents are critical about where support for those challengers is coming from. And those challengers have questioned the current court’s conservatism.