Criminal Law Blog
Judge Watch: Trial of CCA Chief Justice Sharon Keller Starts Today and Protesters are Ready
This morning, the trial of Chief Justice Sharon Keller started down in San Antonio. It’s reported she got there early – about 45 minutes before the 9:30 proceedings were scheduled to begin. Meanwhile, the Texas Moratorium Network posted a notice on its website that it’s planning on having around 1900 protesters in front of the…
JUDGE WATCH: Justice Keller Trial Set to Start August 17 in San Antonio, Civil Trial Judge Berchelman Presiding
It’s going to be hard to get a parking space around the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio later this month — because starting August 17th, the impeachment trial of Justice Sharon Keller will begin in the courtroom of State District Court Judge David Berchelmann Jr. A State Civil District Judge Will Preside Over the…
Crime News: Texas Police Get More Power to Control You
Effective this September 1st, about six weeks from now, two laws are going into effect that could have a big impact on your freedom. They give lots of power to Texas law enforcement in their dealings with the public — and if you’ve been following this blog and the antics of Texas cops these days,…
Crime News: Paris TX Protests and the Pending Death Penalty for Hate Crime Law
Perhaps you’ve seen some of the news reports from Paris, Texas, about simultaneous demonstrations planned by the New Black Panther Party and the Ku Klux Klan after murder charges were dropped by the authorities against the two white men accused of killing a black man by running him over by a truck and then dragging…
Cop Watch: FBI Busts 2 Sheriff’s Deputies in Major Meth Distribution Biz Run by Motorcycle Gang
Of course, this was a drug dealer’s dream. For many years, the Hockley County Sheriff’s Lead Investigator Deputy Gordon Bohannon and Narcotics Officer Jesse Quintanilla were working with Motorcycle Gang leader and drug dealer Bobby Duwayne Froman by helping him avoid getting caught as he ran a big meth distribution business out of the Lubbock…
Death Row: Rodney Reed Loses Appeal Despite Evidence that Cop Was Real Killer
Death Row inmate Rodney Reed, 41, brought an appeal of his case before the highest court in our state for criminal matters, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, arguing that there is new evidence in his case. And, this evidence points to the victim’s boyfriend – who was a cop at the time – as…
Cop Watch: Webster Cops Taser Pastor at His Church and Pepper Spray the Congregants
These stories about Texas police and their tasers just keep coming – and you gotta wonder which story is the worst. And when something is going to be done about Taser-Happy Police in this state. The latest story: cops use a taser on a pastor – at the church! Over in Webster, Texas (which is…
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…
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…
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…
