Category Archives: Legal matters

Meyers’ voter ID lawsuit gets appellate hearing

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I hope he gets to keep it going. [Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Lawrence] Meyers filed his state lawsuit in October 2014, while another legal challenge to the state’s voter ID law was pending in federal court in Corpus Christi. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Meyers’ voter ID lawsuit gets appellate hearing

Houston’s anti-pollution ordinance killed by Supreme Court

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. In passing two ordinances designed to regulate air pollution, the city of Houston overstepped its authority and illegally subverted state law, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling is a victory for a coalition of industrial facilities whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston’s anti-pollution ordinance killed by Supreme Court

SCOTUS declines to intervene in voter ID case for now

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not what I would have wanted, but not the end of the line. Even as a federal appeals court prepares to review the constitutionality of Texas’ controversial voter ID law, the law will remain in effect, the U.S. Supreme Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Space City” fight escalates

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting real. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau is asking a federal judge to stop a rival comic convention from using the phrase “Space City” for its three-day festival scheduled for NRG Center over Memorial Day weekend. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, you must acquit

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I knew there was a lawsuit going on over the provenance of Stairway to Heaven, but I hadn’t realized there were Texas connections to it. In a few weeks, jurors will decide if Led Zeppelin lifted the guitar intro to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, you must acquit

Lawsuits filed over teacher evaluations

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. A statewide teachers group filed a lawsuit Wednesday in an attempt to block the state from implementing a controversial system that for the first time ties assessments of educators to student performance on standardized tests. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lawsuits filed over teacher evaluations

Federal appeals court sides with transgender teen in bathroom case

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This could be big. A federal appeals court in Richmond has sided with a transgender high school student, saying that he can proceed with his lawsuit arguing that his school board’s decision to ban him from the boys’ bathroom is … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The DAPA arguments at SCOTUS

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say how this will go. A shorthanded Supreme Court heard a Texas-led challenge against President Barack Obama’s 2014 immigration plan Monday with sharp questions about whether the state could bring the case to begin with and if the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The DAPA arguments at SCOTUS

DAPA’s day at SCOTUS

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another day, another huge Supreme Court case involving Texas, a big policy item from President Obama at stake, and the fate of millions of people hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the matter, one of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Supreme Court dismisses effort to dissolve state’s first same-sex marriage

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I could be wrong, but I believe this closes the books on all the same-sex marriage litigation from last year. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday tossed out Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to undo the union of the first gay couple to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Supreme Court dismisses effort to dissolve state’s first same-sex marriage

I now pronounce you man and machine

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no. Chris Sevier says he’s being denied his right to marry – his computer. The persistent Tennessee lawyer – who has carried his challenge to same-sex marriage to courthouses across the nation – has filed a lawsuit in federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on I now pronounce you man and machine

Immigrant harboring law blocked

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge has blocked part of the state’s omnibus border security bill that makes harboring undocumented immigrants a state crime. Under a provision of House Bill 11, which went into effect in September, a person commits a crime … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Immigrant harboring law blocked

Texas-filed birther lawsuit against Ted Cruz dismissed

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. A Houston federal judge tossed out a lawsuit Wednesday that challenged Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s eligibility to run for president. U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning that Houston lawyer Boris Schwartz cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas-filed birther lawsuit against Ted Cruz dismissed

SCOTUS asked to rule on Cruz birther lawsuit

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What fun. A Utah man became the first to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a “birther” lawsuit against Ted Cruz which challenges the White House hopeful’s eligibility for office. The request by Utah attorney Walter Wagner, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Uber settles California fingerprints lawsuit

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Ride-hailing company Uber will pay at least $10 million to settle allegations by California prosecutors that it misled passengers about the quality of its driver background checks. The settlement was signed Thursday in San Francisco, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Uber settles California fingerprints lawsuit

Is the Evenwel decision the last word on “one person one vote”?

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe not. With a long-running legal struggle raging over one of the nation’s strictest voter identification laws, Texas was already a prime battleground in a war between conservatives and liberals over voting rights. And on Monday, experts here and elsewhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on the TCRP voter registration lawsuit

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the first news story I’ve seen about that voter registration lawsuit that was filed two weeks ago. The lead plaintiff is Jarrod Stringer of San Antonio, who relocated from Arlington in 2014. When he updated his driver license address … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the TCRP voter registration lawsuit

SCOTUS upholds “one person, one vote”

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. In a unanimous decision released Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold Texas’ current system for drawing legislative districts so that they are roughly equal in population. The Supreme Court’s ruling is a victory for legislators — … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AG upholds Dallas Zoo ban on guns

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For now. The Dallas Zoo can continue to ban guns at its 106-acre campus in Oak Cliff after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week rejected a citizen complaint that the zoo’s firearms policy violated state law. Paxton’s office said … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on AG upholds Dallas Zoo ban on guns

City wins first round of term limits ballot language lawsuit

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s round one, of course, but it’s still a win. The ballot language Houston voters used to change term limits for elected officials was “inartful” but not “invalid,” a state district judge ruled Wednesday, a move that nonetheless left the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas AG files SCOTUS brief against Obama immigration plan

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday arguing against President Barack Obama’s plan to shield from deportation nearly 5 million people here illegally and give them temporary work permits. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas AG files SCOTUS brief against Obama immigration plan

Lawsuit filed against North Carolina anti-equality law

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That was fast. It took only one day for North Carolina’s legislature to pass the country’s most sweeping anti-LGBT bill (HB2), and only four days after that for Lambda Legal and the ACLU of North Carolina to file a lawsuit … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lawsuit filed against North Carolina anti-equality law

“Prison gerrymandering” tossed by federal court

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. The Federal District Court for Florida’s Northern District ruled Monday that the prison gerrymandering in Florida’s Jefferson County unconstitutionally dilutes the voting power of its residents. By packing inmates who can’t vote into a district, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Prison gerrymandering” tossed by federal court

Can SCOTUS please intervene in the voter ID case?

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The plaintiffs would like to know. Civil rights groups challenging Texas’ voter identification law are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the measure from being used during the 2016 general election. […] The civil rights groups filed a motion … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Local Planned Parenthood joins lawsuit against the video fraudsters

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A Texas-based Planned Parenthood affiliate on Thursday moved to join a federal lawsuit filed in California against the anti-abortion group behind undercover videos of the organization’s clinics. The lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco-based federal court in January, alleges … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Local Planned Parenthood joins lawsuit against the video fraudsters

Once more with SCOTUS and birth control

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. In another major case concerning Texas women’s reproductive care, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will consider if the right to religious freedom is broad enough to completely exempt nonprofits with religious objections to birth control from … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Once more with SCOTUS and birth control

The New Mexico abortion option

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This should come as a surprise to no one. Though abortions among residents are down the number of out-of-state women traveling to New Mexico for abortions has grown significantly over the past three years. According to state Department of Health … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The New Mexico abortion option

What kind of ruling might we expect in the school finance case?

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

KUHF explores the possibilities. Four major scenarios to watch for: The Texas Supreme Court could not rule at all. Instead, it could send the case back to the lower court to see if the latest $2.5 billion dollars to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How much more “undue” does it need to be?

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

HB2 is doing exactly what it was intended to do. A new report released Thursday shows Texas abortion patients traveled farther for services and experienced higher out-of-pocket costs following the closure of more than half of the state’s legal abortion … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How much more “undue” does it need to be?

Paxton prosecutor payment lawsuit tossed

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A Collin County court Thursday tossed out an attempt to stop payments to the special prosecutors appointed to pursue the financial fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Filed by prominent real estate developer and Paxton donor Jeff … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton prosecutor payment lawsuit tossed

Lawsuit filed over voter registration problems

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Texas Civil Rights Project: In a lawsuit filed this morning in a San Antonio federal court, the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) challenged voter registration procedures at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). As the Complaint explains, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Supreme Court declines to intervene in Austin Uber referendum

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew they could do that? The Texas Supreme Court on Monday declined to order the Austin City Council to rewrite the ballot language on the proposed ride-hailing ordinance that will go before voters May 7. Austin music manager Samantha … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Supreme Court declines to intervene in Austin Uber referendum

Court hears arguments over paying Paxton’s prosecutors

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I am rooting for this to be thrown out of court. Dallas County Court at Law Judge Mark Greenberg heard arguments Friday over jurisdictional issues in the civil case brought by taxpayer Jeffory Blackard. Blackard is challenging the $300 per … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SCOTUS upholds same-sex adoption rights

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. The U.S. Supreme Court in a victory for gay rights ruled Monday that states must honor adoptions by same-sex parents who move across state lines. Citing the Constitution’s “full faith and credit” clause, the justices in a unanimous opinion … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on SCOTUS upholds same-sex adoption rights