Author Archives: Michael Lowe

JUDGE WATCH: Corpus Christi Judge Banales Asked to Be Removed From Case of Big Campaign Supporter

Just last week, we pointed to the new U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with campaign contributions and judges across the country – with a warning that the judiciary was to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. And we predicted lots of activity based upon this new precedent. And here it comes …. Less than…

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COURT OPINIONS: US Supreme Court Nixes Judges Accepting Big Campaign Donations Due to Appearance of Bias

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Caperton v. Massey (read the opinion here) came down yesterday, and we’ll have to see how much it impacts Texas Judges — and how often they recuse themselves from cases. Texas Judges Run for Office: They Kiss Babies and Take Contributions In Texas, judges run for office. (The federal…

Posted on by Court Opinions, Judge Watch |
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Cop Watch: Harlingen Cop Fatally Shoots Man in the Back, Juan Angel Guerra On the Case

Down Harlingen way, it was cold back in January so Diego Rivas-Soto started a fire under the Highway 77 overpass to keep warm. Rivas-Soto was a Mexican national, with family living in Durango. He was here, looking for work. Drawn by the fire, the police showed up. Rivas-Soto was obviously frightened, and according to the…

Posted on by Cop Watch, Crime News |
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JUDGE WATCH: Houston Judge Caught on Video Allegedly Keying Neighbor’s Car Now Subject of Grand Jury Felony Investigation

Down in Houston, the Grand Jury is watching the video below, as well as other evidence, to decide whether or not felony criminal charges should be filed against retired visiting judge Woody Densen.Seems Judge Densen may have vandalized his neighbor’s Range Rover (as well as the neighbor’s girlfriend’s Mercedes). And the neighbor was on the…

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DA Watch: Tarrant County DA Seeks Recusal Again in Death Row Case Due to Prosecutor Misconduct

Earlier this year, we posted about the Tarrant County DA recusing itself from the Michael Toney case after it was revealed that the District Attorney had failed to turn over extremely important evidence to the defense that might well have kept Toney from being convicted, much less sentenced to Death Row. In the Toney case,…

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Cop Watch: Austin Cop Tasers 72 Year Old Woman TWICE – Watch Video

You know, this blog has posted about a cop using a Taser on his own wife. And that was bad. This blog has posted about cops using Tasers on the father of the bride during a wedding reception. And that was bad, too. There was also the recent post about the use of a Taser…

Posted on by Cop Watch, Orwellian Threats to Rights |
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Cop Watch: Texas Rangers Investigating 2 Seguin Cops in 2 Separate Incidents

Seguin Police Chief Kevin Kelso, according to media reports, first became aware of some bad stuff going on within his department when he got word that the Texas Rangers were investigating one of his officers — so Kelso put this officer on paid leave. Sometime after that, a second set of facts revealed themselves about…

Posted on by Cop Watch, Corrupt Cops |
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JUDGE WATCH: Judge Samuel Kent Resigns in 2010 (Next Year)

They may say a lot of things about Judge Samuel Kent but no one can say he’s not clever. As you know from earlier posts, Judge Kent took a plea deal and is set to start serving time next month for obstruction of justice in a case alleging sex crimes by the Judge against court…

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Crime News: 20th Dallas County DNA Exoneration Walks Free Today

Today, Jerry Lee Evans will walk out of a Dallas courtroom a free man, at the age of 47, after spending 23 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. What Happened to Put The Wrong Man Behind Bars This Time? Back in 1986, an 18-year-old woman in her first year at SMU…

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JUDGE WATCH: Impeachments of Keller and Kent Advancing Side by Side

Just think. A year ago Christmas, you would have been reading about Sharon Keller, Chief Justice of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and Samuel Kent, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas (Galveston Branch) with respect. The news reports would have been dealing with some case before them, or maybe some…

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