Tag Archives: Justice Department

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 City Council, Election 2017, filing deadline, Johnny Isbell, Justice Department, lawsuit, MALDEF, Mayor, Pasadena, redistricting, single member districts, Texas, Voting Rights Act | 2 Comments

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 Attorney General, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Jeff Sessions, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, Lambda Legal, lawsuit, President, schools, Texas, transgender rights, US Department of Education | Comments Off

Judge rules for Pasadena plaintiffs

Posted on January 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. A federal judge in Houston dealt a major blow Friday to the city of Pasadena in a closely watched voting rights case, ruling that officials deliberately diluted the clout of Hispanic voters by revising the system for electing City … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged City Council, Election 2017, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Johnny Isbell, Justice Department, MALDEF, Pasadena, redistricting, single member districts, Texas, Voting Rights Act | 1 Comment

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 Congress, Election 2016, Election 2018, Justice Department, lawsuit, LULAC, Marc Veasey, NAACP, redistricting, Texas, The Lege, Voting Rights Act | 1 Comment

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 Attorney General, Barack Obama, Bob Jones University, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, President, Ronald Reagan, SCOTUS, Solicitor General, Texas | 3 Comments

Two more lawsuit updates

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The ban on the transgender bathroom rule remains in place pending appeals. Continued lack of access in public schools to bathrooms matching transgender persons’ gender identity won’t cause them irreparable harm, a Texas federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Reed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, President, SCOTUS, Texas, Title IX, transgender rights, US Department of Education | 1 Comment

So now what for voter ID?

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to say how much prospects have changed now that Donald Trump gets to appoint the ninth Supreme Court justice, but it’s fair to say that thing haven’t improved for the plaintiffs. Five years ago, Texas passed one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Dan Patrick, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Department, lawsuit, NAACP, President, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege, voter ID, Voting Rights Act | 10 Comments

Election Day observers coming from Justice Department over ADA complaints

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a complicated headline for this story. Six teams of Justice Department officials will be dispatched to observe Election Day voting at 75 polling locations in Harris County as part of an investigation into allegations that the county failed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016, Legal matters | Tagged Americans with Disabilities Act, Election 2016, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Justice Department, lawsuit, Stan Stanart | 5 Comments

SCOTUS rejects reconsideration of immigration ruling

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined the Obama administration’s request to reconsider a controversial immigration program that would have let millions of undocumented immigrants stay in the country legally. The program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged Barack Obama, DREAM Act, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, SCOTUS, Texas | 3 Comments

State accused of misleading on voter ID education outreach

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I’m as shocked as you are. The federal government is accusing Texas of circulating “inaccurate or misleading information” to poll workers and would-be voters about relaxed identification requirements for the November elections. “Limited funds are being spent on … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Attorney General, Election 2016, Harris County Clerk, Justice Department, lawsuit, Marc Veasey, Secretary of State, Stan Stanart, Texas, voter ID, Voting Rights Act | 2 Comments

Bail practices lawsuit update

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There was a hearing in court this week, and the judge was skeptical. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal declined Thursday to rule on whether Harris County should be dismissed from a lawsuit intended to force officials to reform a tough … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged bail, Equal Justice Under Law, Harris County, Harris County Sheriff, jails, Justice Department, lawsuit, Texas | 4 Comments

No ruling yet in potty lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We should get one soon, at least as far as the request for an injunction goes. U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor did not issue a ruling from the bench after an almost two-hour long hearing during which state attorneys … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Attorney General, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, schools, Texas, Title IX, transgender rights, US Department of Education | Comments Off

Harris County sued over disabled voting access

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Harris County, which includes Houston, has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because many of its polling places are inaccessible to voters with disabilities, a new lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice alleges. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Americans with Disabilities Act, Election 2016, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Justice Department, lawsuit, Stan Stanart | 17 Comments

Friday was a very good day for voting rights

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In North Carolina: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s opinion in North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP v. McCrory is nothing short of a beat down. The court does not simply tear apart major provisions … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged early voting, Election 2016, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Department, Kansas, lawsuit, North Carolina, racism, SCOTUS, Texas, voter ID, Voting Rights Act, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Paxton keeps finding new ways to be in trouble

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The man has a talent. Ethics experts on Wednesday were torn over whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s decision to accept $100,000 for his legal defense from a donor whose company was under investigation by his office violates the letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged Attorney General, ethics, fundraising, James Webb, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, Preferred Imaging, Texas, TPJ | Comments Off

Can we try this again with nine Justices, please?

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t hurt to ask. The Obama administration on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the legality of the president’s controversial immigration enforcement plan, which stalled last month when the high court deadlocked on an appeal. The program, known … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged Barack Obama, DREAM Act, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, SCOTUS, Texas | Comments Off

More opposition to North Carolina’s HB2

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Justice Department seeks to halt implementation of North Carolina’s viciously anti-LGBT law. The billowing legal fight over North Carolina’s House Bill 2 continued to grow this week with the U.S. Department of Justice asking a federal judge to suspend … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Election 2016, Election 2018, gay rights, Governor, Julian Castro, Justice Department, lawsuit, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, The Lege, transgender rights | 1 Comment

Paxton petitions for national injunction against transgender bathroom directive

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This guy, I swear. Plunging further into the politics of public school bathrooms, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday expanded his federal lawsuit against an Obama Administration directive instructing schools not to discriminate against transgender students, saying he wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Barack Obama, Equality Texas, Harrold ISD, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, schools, Texas, transgender rights, US Department of Education | 1 Comment

Hanen stays his sanctions

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Texas-based judge that last year put a hold on President Obama’s executive order on immigration decided on Tuesday to also suspend a controversial punishment he had recently issued to the administration’s attorneys. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen asserted in … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, DREAM Act, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, immigration, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, National Immigration Law Center, Texas | Comments Off

Justice Department appeals Hanen sanctions to Fifth Circuit

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this over the weekend. Escalating its constitutional battle with a federal judge over the ethics of government lawyers in the major test case on presidential power over immigration, the Justice Department late Friday night asked a federal appeals court … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged DREAM Act, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, Texas | Comments Off

Groups ask Fifth Circuit to block Judge Hanen order

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A coalition of civil and immigrant rights groups on Friday asked an appeals court to stop a federal judge’s order that requires the Obama administration to turn over the confidential information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The filing in … Continue reading →

Justice Department asks Judge Hanen to reconsider his last order

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t hurt to ask, I guess. The Obama administration has asked a Brownsville-based judge to rethink an order that requires the federal government to turn over the private information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The May 19 order from U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged DREAM Act, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, SCOTUS, Texas | Comments Off

Paxton sues over Obama directive on transgender bathroom access

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A more transparent publicity stunt you would be hard-pressed to find. Texas, joined by 10 other states, filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a federal directive instructing school districts to let transgender students use the bathroom that corresponds with their … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged David Thweatt, gay marriage, Harrold ISD, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, schools, Texas, transgender rights, US Department of Education | 2 Comments

Judge Hanen’s bizarre order

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? A federal judge with a history of anti-immigrant sentiment ordered the federal government to turn over the names, addresses and “all available contact information” of over 100,000 immigrants living within the United States. He does so in a strange … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged DREAM Act, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, immigration, Justice Department, lawsuit, SCOTUS, Texas | 3 Comments

The Sheriff and Lord High Executioner of Edwards County

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In case you haven’t already, you really need to read this: The first thing she noticed was Sheriff Pamela Elliott standing across the street. It was an August evening in 2014, and Rachel Gallegos had just gotten home for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged Edwards County, Election 2016, Justice Department, Pamela Elliott, Sheriff, Texas, Voting Rights Institute | Comments Off

Federal action on schools accommodating transgender bathroom use

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to see this. The Obama administration is planning to issue a sweeping directive telling every public school district in the country to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity. A letter to school districts … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Dan Patrick, Greg Abbott, Justice Department, North Carolina, schools, Texas, transgender rights, US Department of Education | 11 Comments

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 Election 2014, Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, Justice Department, lawsuit, LULAC, MALC, Marc Veasey, NAACP, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege, voter ID | 2 Comments

Reps. Green and Green want investigation of voting machine shortage

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Two Houston congressmen are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether unequal distribution of voting machines and polling locations in Harris County disenfranchised minority voters during the March 1 primary … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged Al Green, Democratic primary, early voting, Election 2016, Gene Green, Harris County, Justice Department, Lane Lewis, primaries, Secretary of State, Texas, turnout, voting centers | 6 Comments

Full Fifth Circuit will hear voter ID appeal

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. The full U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to take up the Texas voter ID case Wednesday, adding another chapter to the law’s convoluted journey through the federal court system. The decision to hear the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Election 2016, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Marc Veasey, SCOTUS, Texas, voter ID, Voting Rights Act | 1 Comment

Irving ISD sues AG’s office over Ahmed Mohamed

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, brother. Ahmed Mohamed’s former school district has sued the Texas Attorney General — defying an order to reveal details of a federal investigation related to the Muslim teen’s arrest after bringing a homemade clock to school last year. Dozens of Democratic U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, School days | Tagged Ahmed Mohammed, Attorney General, Irving, Justice Department, lawsuit, open records, schools, Texas | Comments Off

State strikes out on Syrian refugees again

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Too bad. Now give up already. A federal judge has again denied a bid by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the federal government from resettling Syrian refugees in the state. Dallas-based U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey on … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU, Barack Obama, Greg Abbott, immigration, International Rescue Committee, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, refugees, Syria, Texas | Comments Off

Paxton takes another shot at Syrian refugees

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. In the latest controversy over Syrians seeking refuge in Texas, the state’s top lawyer on Tuesday again asked a federal judge to halt the resettlement of people fleeing the war-torn country. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told a U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged immigration, International Rescue Committee, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, refugees, Syria, Texas | Comments Off

Two abortion stories

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The amicus briefs are being filed in the HB2 case. The Obama administration on Monday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a Texas abortion law that has shuttered nearly half the clinics in the state, saying the Republican-backed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Center for Reproductive Rights, Geanie Morrison, Jane's Due Process, judicial bypass, Justice Department, lawsuit, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege, Wendy Davis | 1 Comment

Our bail policies are unjust, costly, and stupid

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Any questions about how I really feel? “The numbers clearly tell the story: More than three-fourths of the people in Harris County Jail haven’t been convicted of crime, and the majority of them are sitting in jail simply because they … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged Alex Bunin, bail, Harris County, jail overcrowding, jails, Justice Department, Michael Kubosh, Rodney Ellis, Texas | 5 Comments

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