Tag Archives: Supreme Court

Paxton asks Supreme Court to toss that pesky whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Same argument, different court. Either Ken Paxton can be held accountable, or he gets a free pass to do whatever he wants. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to toss out a whistleblower lawsuit by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Attorney General, Blake Brickman, Brandon Cammack, Brent Webster, bribery, David Maxwell, FBI, Jeff Mateer, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Mark Penley, Nate Paul, Ryan Vassar, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Whistleblower Act, Third Court of Appeals | Comments Off

Fifth Circuit gets set to put the final nail in SB8 legal challenges

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The fix was always in. In a contentious hearing Friday, a federal appeals court indicated it is likely to send Texas’ restrictive abortion law to the state supreme court, a move that could add months or longer before the case … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Amy Hagstrom Miller, Center for Reproductive Rights, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Department, lawsuit, Planned Parenthood, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance | Comments Off

Third Court of Appeals upholds Harris County mask mandate

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Savor the win, for it’s off to SCOTx next. A state appeals court on Thursday upheld a lower-court injunction that allowed Harris County to impose mask requirements despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning such mandates. The Austin-based 3rd Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Christian Menefee, coronavirus, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, local control, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Disaster Act, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 1 Comment

SB8 plaintiffs want their lawsuit moved back to district court

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As is usually the case, the lawless Fifth Circuit is the problem, with a generous assist from SCOTUS. With the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set to hear arguments about Texas’ restrictive new abortion law Friday, abortion providers have … Continue reading →

Lawsuit over Harris County Commissioners Court redistricting tossed

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this over the holidays. A Harris County Judge on Wednesday tossed a lawsuit from Republican commissioners and voters over new county maps that favor Democrats. Judge Dedra Davis ruled in favor of Harris County, finding that Republican commissioners Jack … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Andy Taylor, CD38, Commissioners Court, Congress, Election 2022, Election 2024, Harris County, Jack Cagle, lawsuit, Lina Hidalgo, redistricting, Rodney Ellis, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Tom Ramsey, Voting Rights Act | 5 Comments

Apparently, we’re still litigating whether Texas Central is a railroad

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I admit, I’m a bit confused by this. The Texas attorney general’s office has put its weight behind a landowner’s case against the companies developing a controversial Dallas-Houston bullet train, arguing they can’t force people to sell parcels needed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 13th Court of Appeals, Attorney General, eminent domain, Freestone County, high speed rail, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Leon County, Limestone County, Supreme Court, Texans Against High Speed Rail, Texas, Texas Central High-Speed Railway | 4 Comments

SCOTUS finds another way to screw abortion rights

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Surely you’re not surprised. The Supreme Court has formally returned a lawsuit over Texas’ six-week abortion ban to a federal appeals court that has twice allowed the law to stay in effect, rather than to a district judge who sought … Continue reading →

The filings I’m still looking for

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Today is Filing Deadline Day. By the end of today, we’ll know who is and isn’t running for what. While we wait for that, let’s review the filings that have not yet happened, to see what mysteries may remain. Congress: … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Alex Cornwallis, Ana-Maria Ramos, Art Fierro, Carl Sherman, Carla Brailey, CD07, CD15, CD16, CD22, CD26, CD30, CD31, CD34, CD35, CD37, CD38, Centrell Reed, Claudia Ordaz-Perez, Commissioners Court, Congress, Court of Criminal Appeals, Daniel Caldwell, Democratic primary, Donna Imam, Eddie Berniece Johnson, Eddie Rodriguez, Election 2022, Erica Davis, filing deadline, George Risner, Georgina Perez, Governor, Greg Casar, Gwenn Burud, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Harris County Judge, HD102, HD106, HD109, HD126, HD129, HD133, HD14, HD150, HD22, HD25, HD27, HD28, HD29, HD50, HD52, HD55, HD61, HD66, HD67, HD76, HD79, HD84, HD96, HF57, Innocencio Barrientez, James Talarico, Jasmine Crockett, Joe Deshotel, Jonathan Cocks, Juan Juarez, Julia Maldonado, Julie Oliver, Justice of the Peace, Lawrence Allen, Lite Gov, Lizzie FLetcher, Lloyd Doggett, Luis Sifuentes, Melissa Ortega, Michael Cooper, Michelle Palmer, Miguel Gonzalez, Misty Bishop, Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Rebecca Viagran, redistricting, Robert Johnson, Ron Reynolds, Ruben Cortez, SBOE, SD04, SD07, SD08, SD09, SD17, Supreme Court, Teneshia Hudspeth, Texas, The Lege, Veronica Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez | 3 Comments

State judge rules SB8 is unconstitutional

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds a little better than it actually is, but it’s still pretty good. A Texas judge on Thursday ruled that the state’s controversial law restricting abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy violates the Texas Constitution, saying it should not … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, lawsuit, Planned Parenthood, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Multidistrict Litigation Panel, Texas Right to Life, The Lege, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance | 4 Comments

A brief look at the winter storm litigation

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This story is actually about the judge who will be presiding over winter storm cases, but it caught my eye for a reason that will be apparent. Sylvia A. Matthews presided over more than 175 jury trials and 160 bench … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Astroworld, blackouts, ERCOT, Freeze 2021, Harris County, lawsuit, Public Utility Commission, Railroad Commission, Supreme Court, Sylvia Matthews, Texas, Texas Multidistrict Litigation Panel | 2 Comments

Appeals court upholds Dallas mask mandate

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still mask mandate litigation going on, and Greg Abbott keeps getting his ass handed to him. Mask mandates will be allowed in the State of Texas. The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas issued the ruling during the late … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 5th Court of Appeals, Clay Jenkins, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, Supreme Court, Texas | 1 Comment

Bexar mask mandate back on

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Abbott and Paxton take another L. A temporary order that allows the City of San Antonio and Bexar County to require masks in their buildings will stay in place until a lawsuit challenging an executive order goes to trial in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, Bexar County, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, San Antonio, Supreme Court, Texas | Comments Off

State lawsuits against SB8 finally get a hearing

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A long strange trip it has been. A state district judge on Wednesday morning heard arguments from abortion rights groups challenging Texas’ restrictive abortion law in what seems to be the first court hearing to specifically tackle the statute’s constitutionality. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, lawsuit, Planned Parenthood, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Multidistrict Litigation Panel, Texas Right to Life, The Lege | 1 Comment

SCOTx hears Chick-Fil-A case

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. The Supreme Court of Texas heard oral arguments Thursday in the now two-year-old case involving the exclusion of Chick-fil-A city contract in the San Antonio International Airport. […] San Antonio has always maintained that the law … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, abortion, Bexar County, Chick-fil-A, Ken Paxton, Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio, Supreme Court, The Lege | Comments Off

Third Court rejects Paxton attempt to kill whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A state appeals court found Thursday that former deputies of Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired after accusing the Republican official of abusing his office are protected under the state’s whistleblower law, allowing their lawsuit against Paxton to … Continue reading →

Chick-Fil-A and the “heartbeat” lawsuits

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’d forgotten all about this. A case that’s before the Texas Supreme Court this fall could have strong implications for the future of the state’s newly adopted abortion ban, the most prohibitive in the nation. The suit relates to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, abortion, Bexar County, Bryan Hughes, Chick-fil-A, gay marriage, gay rights, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Mayor, Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio, Supreme Court, The Lege | 2 Comments

SCOTx puts San Antonio ISD’s vaccine mandate on pause

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ken Paxton finally gets what he wants. The Texas Supreme Court temporarily halted San Antonio Independent School District’s staff vaccine mandate on Thursday, a day before the deadline for all employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The ruling comes two … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, Bexar County, coronavirus, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, Pedro Martinez, San Antonio, San Antonio ISD, Supreme Court, Texas, vaccinations | Comments Off

If in Texas you can’t get justice…

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

…Try somewhere else. An abortion provider in Texas took the unusual step Tuesday of asking a federal judge in another state to declare unconstitutional the six-week-ban on the procedure that took effect last month in Texas. Lawyers for Dr. Alan Braid, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Alan Braid, Arkansas, Bryan Hughes, Center for Reproductive Rights, Felipe N. Gomez, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Illinois, lawsuit, Oscar Stilley, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Wolfgang P. Hirczy de Mino | 4 Comments

SCOTx denies Planned Parenthood emergency request

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise, I suppose. The Texas Supreme Court denied a request Monday from Planned Parenthood to resume its lawsuit, filed in a state district court, that challenges the state’s near-total abortion ban. Planned Parenthood asked the all-Republican court last … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, lawsuit, Planned Parenthood, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Multidistrict Litigation Panel, Texas Right to Life, The Lege | Comments Off

Planned Parenthood files emergency request to SCOTx

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: On Wednesday, Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas filed an emergency request asking the Texas Supreme Court to intervene in an ongoing case against Texas Right to Life (TRTL), challenging Senate Bill 8, the state’s six-week abortion ban. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, lawsuit, Planned Parenthood, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Multidistrict Litigation Panel, Texas Right to Life, The Lege | 3 Comments

Appeals court appears skeptical about Paxton’s whistleblower defense

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As well they should be. A panel of Texas 3rd Court of Appeals justices expressed skepticism of an argument from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawyers on Wednesday that he is exempt from the state’s whistleblower act because he’s not a … Continue reading →

Feds officially investigating Texas mask mandate ban

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday launched a civil rights investigation into Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in schools, making Texas the sixth state to face a federal inquiry over mask rules. The investigation will focus … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Arizona, Arkansas, coronavirus, face masks, Florida, Greg Abbott, Iowa, Joe Biden, lawsuit, local control, Miguel Cardona, Oklahoma, schools, South Carolina, stimulus, Supreme Court, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Education Agency, US Department of Education, Utah | Comments Off

Precinct analysis: Congress, part 2

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Introduction Congressional districts State Rep districts Commissioners Court/JP precincts Comparing 2012 and 2016 Statewide judicial Other jurisdictions Appellate courts, Part 1 Appellate courts, Part 2 Judicial averages Other cities District Attorney County Attorney Sheriff Tax Assessor County Clerk HCDE Fort … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Amy Clark Meachum, Barack Obama, CD07, CD15, CD28, CD32, CD34, Christi Craddick, Chrysta Castaneda, Congress, Dale Henry, Donald Trump, Election 2012, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Hillary Clinton, Jim Wright, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, judicial races, Mitt Romney, MJ Hegar, Nathan Hecht, Paul Sadler, precinct analysis, Railroad Commission, redistricting, Senate, Supreme Court, Ted Cruz, Texas | 1 Comment

Just a reminder, no one is enforcing Abbott’s mask mandate ban

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In case you had forgotten. While Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is speaking out against mask mandates in schools and suing to stop some Texas school districts from enacting them, in reality his order banning such mandates has gone largely unenforced … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged Bexar County, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, schools, Steve Allison, Supreme Court, Tarrant County, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Travis County, US Department of Education | 3 Comments

Feds take first steps in the mask mandate fight

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Coming attractions. The U.S. Department of Education is opening civil rights investigations to determine whether five states that have banned schools from requiring masks are discriminating against students with disabilities, the agency said on Monday. The department is targeting Iowa, … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Arizona, Arkansas, coronavirus, face masks, Florida, Greg Abbott, Iowa, Joe Biden, lawsuit, local control, Miguel Cardona, Oklahoma, schools, South Carolina, Supreme Court, Tennessee, Texas, US Department of Education, Utah | 2 Comments

More injunctions against the mask mandate bans

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Keep ’em coming. Concluding that Gov. Greg Abbott exceeded his authority by banning mask mandates in Texas, an Austin judge ruled Friday that school districts in Travis County can enforce face coverings as a COVID-19 precaution. State District Judge Catherine … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Austin, Austin ISD, Christian Menefee, coronavirus, Dallas ISD, face masks, Fort Worth, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HISD, Ken Paxton, local control, Pflugerville, schools, Southern Center for Child Advocacy, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Disaster Act, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 3 Comments

Abbott admits he can’t enforce his mask mandate ban

Posted on August 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

So what are we even doing here? Just make your mandate and move on. Gov. Greg Abbott has been embroiled in court battles with Texas cities, counties and public schools that have defied his ban on local mask mandates. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Christian Menefee, coronavirus, District Attorney, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, Kim Ogg, lawsuit, local control, Supreme Court, Texas | 1 Comment

Bexar mask mandate put on hold again

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

SCOTx has entered the chat, again. The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily blocked San Antonio and Bexar County’s mask mandate, marking the latest update in a flurry of court battles over mask requirements statewide. The decision comes after an appellate … Continue reading →

Dallas County gets its injunction

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Another big win. A district court judge has sided with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins in his dispute with Gov. Greg Abbott over the county’s mask mandate, allowing the mandate to stay in place. Judge Tonya Parker issued a temporary … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Christian Menefee, Clay Jenkins, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, Supreme Court, Texas | 9 Comments

Back to SCOTx for the mask mandate ban

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourselves. Following an unfavorable outcome at an appellate court, Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Supreme Court to block the mask mandate in San Antonio and Bexar County. A Bexar County district judge issued a temporary order on Aug. 16 allowing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, Bexar County, Clay Jenkins, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, San Antonio, Supreme Court, Texas | 3 Comments

Stop investigating yourself, you’ll go blind

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not enough snark on the Internet for this. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Tuesday released an internal report that found that Paxton did not accept bribes and did not misuse his office to benefit his friend and … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged Attorney General, Brandon Cammack, Brent Webster, bribery, FBI, Jeff Mateer, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Nate Paul, Ryan Vassar, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Whistleblower Act, Third Court of Appeals | 2 Comments

The status of the mask mandate lawsuits

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron does a roundup. Texas courtrooms have become a busy place this August, with Attorney General Ken Paxton battling school districts, cities, counties and nonprofits to defend Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates aimed at preventing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Bexar County, Christian Menefee, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Fort Bend County, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, San Antonio, schools, Southern Center for Child Advocacy, Supreme Court, Texas | 4 Comments

The mask rebellion

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sweet, sweet music to the ears. The local mask rebellion, coupled with the fresh threat of legal action from President Joe Biden’s administration, poses the most serious challenge yet to [Gov. Greg] Abbott’s emergency powers, which he has wielded in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Bexar County, Cameron County, coronavirus, Dallas County, Election 2021, Election 2022, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Hays County, Hidalgo County, HISD, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, Nueces County, Paris ISD, polls, schools, Supreme Court, Texas, Travis County, vaccinations | 18 Comments

SCOTx demurs

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting: . Important context here > — Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) 6:55 PM – 19 August 2021 . The Texas Supreme Court has left in place a Travis County judge’s TRO (that blocked @GovAbbott’s ban on mask mandates in Austin), … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 4th Court of Appeals, Austin, Bexar County, coronavirus, face masks, Fort Bend County, Fort Bend ISD, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HISD, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, local control, San Antonio, San Antonio ISD, Supreme Court, Texas, Travis County, vaccinations | 6 Comments

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