Texas

West Texas Rural Sheriffs Take a Stand: Halting Enforcement of Controversial Immigration Law

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Culberson County, a rural area in West Texas, may see a limited enforcement of its controversial immigration law by local sheriffs. This comes as the debate over immigration in the United States continues to divide communities. The law in question, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB4), allows local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they detain or arrest. It also penalizes local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. However, several sheriffs in Culberson County have expressed concerns about the law and its potential impact on their communities. Sheriffs … Read more

Democratic and Republican Senators Unite to Oppose Controversial Texas Two-Step Legal Tactic

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WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with their Republican counterpart Josh Hawley, have come together to oppose a legal tactic known as the Texas Two-Step. This maneuver, used by large corporations facing mass tort claims, involves creating a new subsidiary to divert liability and then filing for bankruptcy. The senators have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling by the U.S. Appeals Court that allowed paper giant Georgia-Pacific to utilize this legal strategy to avoid millions in asbestos liability claims. The … Read more

Falling Short of Human Rights: Joint Allegation Letter Challenges Texas’ Treatment of LGBTQ+ Community

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – In recent years, the erosion of key rights has left many individuals and communities feeling marginalized and unheard. Restrictions on abortion access, limitations on the autonomy of transgender youth and their families, and the policing of educators’ lessons on important social issues have become all too common across the United States. Even the libertarian think tank Cato Institute ranks Texas at the bottom when it comes to personal freedoms. This assault on personal liberties has primarily occurred at the state level, prompting concerns about the diminishing influence of the supremacy clause and … Read more

Texas Supreme Court Sheds Light on Challenges of Determining Damages, Calls for Reasoned Decision-Making by Juries

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – Last summer, the Texas Supreme Court made a landmark decision to reverse a $15 million jury award in the case of Gregory v. Chohan. The court criticized the plaintiffs’ counsel for failing to provide a rational argument justifying the amount sought or awarded. This case sheds light on the need for juries to be guided in their deliberations and avoid arbitrary methods when determining damages. In civil cases, damages serve two essential purposes: compensating the injured party for their harm and deterring similar wrongful conduct in the future. However, different jurisdictions have … Read more