by Staff | Jun 2, 2015 | Uncategorized
June 1, 2015 (http://www.law360.com/articles/662392/texas-bill-nixing-pick-a-pal-grand-juries-heads-to-governor) By Paul DeBenedetto Law360, Houston (June 01, 2015, 6:56 PM ET) — Attempts to scrap Texas’ controversial “pick-a-pal” grand jury system moved a step closer to reality on Sunday, as the Texas State Senate passed a bill intended to reform the process that allows judge-appointed commissioners to nominate jurors instead of random selection.An amendment to H.B. 2150, sponsored by State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, contains an amendment by State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, that would replace the method of empaneling a grand jury through a grand jury commissioner. The new bill would instead replace the so-called “pick-a-pal” method,… To view the full article, click...
by Staff | May 29, 2015 | Uncategorized
(http://www.texaslawyer.com/id=1202727766452/Sine-Die-Which-Bills-Passed-and-Which-Bills-Died-This-Legislative-Session?kw=Sine%20Die%20Which%20Bills%20Passed%20and%20Which%20Bills%20Died%20This%20Legislative%20Session?&slreturn=20150429110408) by Angela Morris Lawmakers passed many bills that affect the justice system, lawyers and judges. Some of these bills have landed on the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott, who has until June 21 to veto, sign or allow bills to become law without his signature. Click here to read Full...
by Staff | May 27, 2015 | Uncategorized
Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman with Special Guest: Governor Greg Abbott Location: The Headliners Club – 21st Floor June 8, 2015 5:30 – 7:00 pm Contact: Susan Lilly or Catherine McKinney at 512-477-7722, or by email to Catherine@lillyandcompany.com Campaign: Justice Guzman Campaign 815 A Brazos PMB 279 Austin, TX...
by Staff | May 27, 2015 | Uncategorized
Justice Cindy Olson Bourland Reception Location: The Intel Club – 2nd Floor, Dell Diamond, Round Rock TX June 3, 2015 5:30-7:30pm Contact: Pasha Moore, 512-330-4146 or pasha@hollandtaucher.com Campaign: Justice Cindy O. Bourland Campaign PO Box 684281 Austin, TX...
by Staff | May 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
May 18, 2015 (http://www.texaslawyer.com/id=1202726933149/ThreeJudge-Court-Bill-Headed-to-Governor?kw=Three-Judge%20Court%20Bill%20Headed%20to%20Governor&et=editorial&bu=Texas%20Lawyer&cn=20150520&src=EMC-Email&pt=AM%20Alert&slreturn=20150420101235) by Angela Morris, Texas Lawyer Senate Bill 455 would allow the Texas attorney general to petition the Texas Supreme Court’s chief justice to convene a mandatory three-judge court to hear school finance and redistricting cases. Read full...
by Staff | May 14, 2015 | Uncategorized
May 13, 2015 (http://riograndeguardian.com/house-panel-votes-to-split-13th-court-of-appeals-into-two/) AUSTIN, Texas – A state lawmaker living in the northern part of the 20-county region covered by the 13th Court of Appeals has filed a bill to split the Court in two. Under state Rep. Phil Stephenson’s legislation, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties would be covered by a completely new appeals court, to be known as the 15th Court of Appeals. The remaining 17 counties currently served by the 13th Court, including Nueces County, would stay with the 13th Court. The one Republican justice on the 13th Court, Greg Perkes of Corpus Christi, supports Stephenson’s legislation. The other five justices on the Court, all Democrat, are opposed to it. Laying out House Bill 2730 in the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, Stephenson, a Republican from Wharton County, said he was concerned about population projections. Because the Rio Grande Valley is growing so fast, representation in the northern part of the district will be diminished, he argued. “I brought this bill for a simple reason. It is not about today it is about the growth of South Texas. What happens when there are five million people down there?” Stephenson said, referring to the Rio Grande Valley. Stephenson said the current population for the 13th Court of Appeals region is about 2.54 million. “Within ten to 12 years you are going to have four million people with probably about three million in Hidalgo. That is the growth pattern if anyone wants to go look at that stuff. We have got to be ahead of the curve. Everything we do in this state should be about...
