Courts
State court puts Austin's paid sick leave rules on hold
As the city has stepped up work to inform and prepare workers about their rights under the city’s passed-but-not-yet-implemented paid sick leave ordinance, a state appeals court has put the measure on hold while it reviews the legal case against…
Courts • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 20, 2018
So, what happens to CodeNEXT now?
Last month, a majority of City Council members, including Mayor Steve Adler, said they did not believe that a ballot initiative proposed by anti-CodeNEXT activists could be put before voters this November. While the initiative had received more than enough…
Courts • By Jack Craver • Jul 19, 2018
Court orders Council to put CodeNEXT petition on the ballot
A district judge has ordered City Council to put a petition on the November ballot that, if passed, would require Land Development Code rewrites, such as CodeNEXT, to be approved by voters. The judge ruled that Council has a duty to…
Courts • By KUT News • Jul 17, 2018
Texas usually fights Austin at the Capitol. Lately, the fight is in the courtroom.
The city of Austin has endured several legal jabs from the state in the past couple of months. Recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped into a dispute over the makeup of the city’s Planning Commission. A week ago, the…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 12, 2018
Groups criticize Paxton for suing commissioners
The people who urged Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to file suit to remove eight members of the Austin Planning Commission on Monday have nothing but praise for Paxton; however, other more business-oriented groups are not pleased with the legal…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jul 6, 2018
Paxton sues eight Planning commissioners
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday received approval from a Travis County district judge to move forward with a lawsuit seeking to remove eight of 13 members of Austin’s Planning Commission. Paxton did so at the urging of opponents…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jul 4, 2018
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Lawsuit accuses Austin, Travis County of gender bias in handling of sexual assaults
Three women have sued the city of Austin and Travis County, alleging their sexual assault cases were inadequately handled because of their gender. The class-action lawsuit claims that sexual assault survivors “have been denied equal access to justice and equal…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 20, 2018
Met Center apology insufficient for Houston
Council Member Ora Houston raised objections during Tuesday’s work session to an item on Thursday’s Council agenda authorizing staff to enter into a 120-month lease agreement for 96,000 square feet of office space at the Met Center on Montopolis Drive…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 10, 2018
Business groups sue to block city's paid sick leave law
An Austin-based conservative think tank has sued the city over its paid sick leave ordinance. The ordinance, which goes into effect Oct. 1, requires all private businesses to provide anywhere from six to eight paid sick days per year for…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 25, 2018
Court upholds majority of 'sanctuary cities' law
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Senate Bill 4 can remain in effect for the time being. Tuesday’s decision will allow the so-called “sanctuary cities” law to take effect while the case against it plays out.…
Courts • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 14, 2018
Party boat owner wins injunction against city
Watertight Endeavors Inc., the owner of three party boats used for weddings, family reunions, high school graduations and similar occasions, has won its first court battle against the city to keep using the Walsh Landing public dock for loading and…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 9, 2018
Judge finds city violated open meetings law again
Litigation about the Champion tract never really goes away. Originally filed in the early 1990s, the litigation simply morphs from one issue to another and one venue to another. It has cost the city of Austin an almost endless amount…
