Tag Archives: lawsuit

The GLSEN 2015 National School Climate Survey

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A lot of the stuff we talk about when we discuss Dan Patrick’s bathroom bill is business – the opposition from businesses, the political ramifications of a GOP/business schism, the economics of the bathroom bill, etc etc etc. But schools … Continue reading →

Posted in School days, Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Final ruling in Pasadena redistricting lawsuit

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official – back to the original map. With candidate registration set to begin Tuesday, a federal judge Monday prohibited the city of Pasadena from using an unconstitutional redistricting scheme in the upcoming May elections, stating that the scheme violated … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where we begin with school finance

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A nice overview from the Trib on school finance, where the problems are many and the budget situation is non-optimal. The current system is held together by a number of short-term fixes that have not been updated or reformed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Where we begin with school finance

City loses appeal of procedural argument in term limits lawsuit

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Stay with me, because this is going to take a bit of explaining. A state appeals court on Thursday rejected the city’s procedural challenge to a lawsuit that could force Houston’s mayor and city council members to revert to three … Continue reading →

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

Feds officially file appeal in transgender bathroom directive lawsuit

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This may be the last stop. With two weeks left, the Obama administration has asked a federal appeals court to throw out a lower court’s decision that suspended policies designed to protect transgender people’s access to restrooms — a sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Feds officially file appeal in transgender bathroom directive lawsuit

Booker T still running for Mayor

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

He says he’s serious. We’ll see. On Tuesday, [Booker T. Huffman] sat down with KHOU 11 News to tell us how he plans to court voters in this new year, nearly three years before Election Day. “I want the people … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New school grading system looks pretty harsh

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourselves. Schools in poor neighborhoods overwhelmingly received the worst grades under Texas’ new rating system — but even typically high-performing districts got C’s and D’s, according to scores that will be released Friday. The “what if” grades show how … Continue reading →

Posted in School days, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Effort to expedite redistricting ruling denied

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project: Earlier today, Federal District Court Judge Xavier Rodriguez denied the motion filed by the Texas congressional and State House redistricting plaintiffs calling on the three-judge federal district court in San Antonio to rule on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Effort to expedite redistricting ruling denied

Fifth Circuit hears immigrant harboring lawsuit appeal

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This time it’s the state that’s appealing a lower court ruling. A federal appeals court in New Orleans heard oral arguments Wednesday about whether a key portion of Texas’ omnibus border security bill is legal. Lawyers for the state of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

“Fetal remains” rule still on hold

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Take all the time you need. As he considers a final ruling on the state’s fetal remains burial rule, U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks is delaying the start date of the rule for at least another three weeks. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Fetal remains” rule still on hold

Chris Suprun’s eventful year in voting

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

How weird is this? The self-described “voting addict” was an apparent casualty of the confusion amid legal wrangling over the state’s 2011 voter ID law. Now, [Texas Republican elector Chris] Suprun is calling for courts to clarify the rules once … Continue reading →

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

Motion filed to compel redistricting ruling

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project: The major plaintiffs challenging the Texas congressional and State House boundaries filed a joint motion earlier today to compel the three-judge federal district court in San Antonio to finally issue a decision on their claims … Continue reading →

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

A look ahead to Houston’s 2017 elections

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I want to return to something in that story about Mayor Turner’s 2017 agenda, which was near the bottom but which is a very big deal for the coming year: A lawsuit over the ballot language used last year to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Transgender health directive halted

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One last kick in the rear from the annus horribilis that was 2016. A Texas judge issued an injunction Saturday against a federal mandate aimed to protect transgender people, finding that the federal health rule violates existing law. The preliminary … Continue reading →

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

Back to court for Planned Parenthood

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Planned Parenthood late Friday asked a federal judge in Austin to block plans by Texas officials to kick the organization out of Medicaid. Calling state plans “nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt,” Planned Parenthood … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Back to court for Planned Parenthood

So what happens to all those Texas lawsuits against the feds?

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It depends, but basically it’s up to the new Solicitor General, since he is the one defending the federal government’s actions. Since Paxton assumed office as AG in January 2015, Texas has sued the federal government more than a dozen … Continue reading →

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

Yet another lawsuit filed against Harris County criminal justice

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lawsuit number three. Harris County has been sued in federal court for the third time in less than a year for yet another issue related to the county’s tough arrest and pretrial detention practices. This time, civil rights advocates allege … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Another take on the potty drama

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey plunges in, and no I don’t regret that at all. Gov. Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to take a bathroom break, and you can’t blame him for trying to find relief. The next legislative session hasn’t even started and … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lawsuit over secular nativity display will proceed

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Merry secular Christmas, y’all. A lawsuit is moving forward against Gov. Greg Abbott over his order to remove a satirical nativity scene from the Texas Capitol last year. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Texas Central land survey case will go to trial

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is a little complicated. A major decision standing in the way of a proposed high-speed rail project connecting Houston to Dallas has been scheduled for trial. District Judge Joseph “Tad” Halbach denied Texas Central Railroad summary judgment in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Motion to dismiss county bail practices lawsuit denied

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Onward. In a sweeping 78-page opinion issued late last week, a federal judge has denied Harris County’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that accuses it of operating an unconstitutional bail system. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal dismissed the sheriff and … Continue reading →

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

Texas follows through on threat to pull Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More than a year after the initial threat was made. Clearly, you can’t rush these things. After more than a year of delays, Texas is officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. In a move that could … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas follows through on threat to pull Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood

The new Sheriff in town

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sheriff-elect Ed Gonzalez has his work cut out for him. When newly elected Sheriff Ed Gonzalez takes office on Jan. 1, he will face a tangle of budget, staffing and jail inmate safety issues inherited from more than a decade … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Booker T for Mayor

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is different. Now that a WWE Hall of Famer is preparing to take the White House, a fellow honoree wants to take over Houston. Booker T., a wrestling legend and Houston native, said Saturday night that he’s in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The religious objection to the “fetal remains” rule

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It may not be your religion, but who are we to tell people of sincere religious faith what to do? “The Satanic Temple believes burial rites are a well-established component of religious practice. In addition, members of The Satanic Temple … Continue reading →

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

Galveston wants a bag ban

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. Reacting to a groundswell of concern about the effect of plastic bags on the environment, Galveston is on the forefront of a statewide controversy over cities’ ability to ban plastic bags that are killing turtles, birds and fouling … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

“Fetal remains” rule put on hold

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge has delayed Texas’ fetal remains burial rule until Jan. 6. Judge Sam Sparks ruled Thursday afternoon that the Texas Department of State Health Services would have to push back its start date for requiring health providers … Continue reading →

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

Texas AFL-CIO wants to be the defendant in the overtime case

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Because they don’t trust the feds post-January 20 to do the job for them. “We’re not saying that the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice haven’t forcefully defended the regulations [so far], but as for whether that will … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas AFL-CIO wants to be the defendant in the overtime case

Abbott says something about bathrooms

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Typically wishy-washy of him. Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people in Texas from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. “I have not seen any proposed legislation yet,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Fetal remains” lawsuit filed

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Today the Center for Reproductive Rights filed new litigation against the state of Texas over unconstitutional new regulations that mandate the burial or cremation of embryonic and fetal tissue that results from abortions, miscarriages, or ectopic pregnancy surgery … Continue reading →

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

Fifth Circuit agrees to expedited appeal of overtime injunction

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good news and bad news. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted an expedited hearing for the Department of Labor in litigation over new overtime regulations. The Labor Department is seeking a hearing in its effort to … Continue reading →

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

You can’t stop the faithless electors

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So says Carolyn Shapiro, associate professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she is co-director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States. Earlier this week, in a New York Times op-ed, Texas presidential elector Chris … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

“Fetal remains” lawsuit in the works

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready. Health providers and abortion clinics have less than two weeks to figure out how to comply with Texas’ new fetal remains rules — that is, if a lawsuit doesn’t halt the process first. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder of … Continue reading →

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

City sued over bail practices

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

One more lawsuit going after the practice of jailing people who can’t afford to post bonf. Two civil rights groups sued the city of Houston late Monday, alleging the city jail has detained people for days at a time without … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City sued over bail practices