While Texas' Senior U.S. Senator John Cornyn has pledged to block President Barack Obama's appointment of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court, the influential Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee said he'll work with the White House to seat five Texans on U.S. District Court benches.
From the Texas Tribune: Survey Captures Fear Level Among Texas Judges.
Hundreds of Texas judges say they have feared for their safety at least once in the last two years, and a majority didn't know they are required by law to report threats, according to a survey taken after the attempted assassination of a Travis County judge.
From Law 360: Texas Supreme Court Judges Ward Off Primary Challengers.
Three Texas Supreme Court justices running for re-election beat back Republican primary challengers Tuesday, with each incumbent likely earning another six-year term on the state’s highest civil court. Having defended their seats, Justices Debra Lehrmann, Paul Green and Eva Guzman are now set up for the November general elections, where they will each face a Democratic opponent. Republicans have dominated Texas’ statewide elections for more than a decade, and the Texas Supreme Court’s nine seats have been filled by all Republicans since 1999.
From MySA: Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's abuse-of-power case is not over yet.
The special prosecutor in the abuse-of-power case against Rick Perry said Thursday he still hasn't decided whether to drop the matter a week after the state's highest criminal court ordered that the indictment against the former governor be dismissed.
From KTLV: Judge accused of sexting while sitting on judicial conduct board.
An East Texas judge is facing serious allegations of explicit sexual behavior online while conducting government business. Smith County Judge Joel Baker serves as chief judge for Smith County and served as vice chair on the State Commission for Judicial Conduct(SCJC). The accusations come from a woman who asked to remain anonymous and private investigator, Tim McLemee who specializes in digital evidence.
From the Tyler Morning Telegraph: Smith County Judge Joel Baker resigns from State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Smith County Judge Joel Baker has resigned from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for personal and family reasons, his office announced Monday.
