Courts
County votes to introduce bill to add $1.2 million probate court
The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to approve a preliminary step in the creation of a new probate court, which would take the total number up to two, in line with other large counties in Texas. When the item was…
Courts • By Seth Smalley • Jan 27, 2023
Central Health, Ascension Texas sue over care for low-income residents
After years of failed negotiations over health care services to low-income residents and payments for those services, Central Health, the Travis County health care district, filed suit Tuesday against Ascension Texas, a nationwide chain of hospitals and health care facilities.…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jan 25, 2023
Travis County might create a probate court, but where is the money?
Travis County is one of the few large counties in the state with only a single probate court, but it may be adding a new one. The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution last week to post a…
Courts • By Seth Smalley • Jan 20, 2023
Can ERCOT even be sued? Texas Supreme Court will decide.
The Supreme Court of Texas will hear oral arguments Monday in a case that could decide the future of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. At issue: whether the group that runs the Texas energy grid is, in fact, a…
Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jan 9, 2023
Toll road agency, tech firm square off in court
At the end of a lengthy hearing Tuesday, Judge Eric Shepperd of Travis County Court at Law No. 2 told lawyers for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the technology company suing the agency he would be back with…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Oct 5, 2022
Judge rejects voting rights suit against city
In a brief letter Tuesday, Travis County District Court Judge Lora Livingston ruled in favor of the city of Austin and against plaintiffs who argued they were being denied their right to vote as a result of redistricting. The plaintiffs…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 18, 2022
Subscribe to our newsletter
Judge hears arguments on Council election lawsuit
After a hearing Thursday, Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston told attorneys for the city and for plaintiffs seeking to force the city to hold City Council elections in all districts this fall that she would make a decision on…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 13, 2022
City wins digital billboard battle at Supreme Court
On a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Thursday that the city of Austin’s regulations prohibiting digital billboards and other off-premises digital signs are content-neutral and therefore do not violate the First Amendment. Reagan National Advertising and Lamar…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 22, 2022
Trial set for redistricting case that could upend city elections
Plaintiffs who say that they have been disenfranchised by the city’s redistricting process will be watching carefully on May 17, when the suit filed against Austin Mayor Steve Adler and his 10 City Council colleagues is set for trial. Also…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 13, 2022
Lawyer argues staggered Council elections, new district maps deny thousands the right to vote
An Austin lawyer has sued City Council members over what he says is the denial of voting rights to tens of thousands of residents. Bill Aleshire filed the lawsuit in a Travis County district court Tuesday on behalf of a…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 3, 2022
Austin spends nearly $1 million to settle lawsuits alleging it mishandled sexual assault cases
The city of Austin is settling two lawsuits alleging it violated the rights of sexual assault victims by mishandling the investigations. The city’s settlement amounts to $825,000, which will be split among 15 plaintiffs, and $50,000 for the plaintiffs’ lawyers.…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 28, 2022
Eckhardt cleared of judicial conduct sanction
Austin state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a lifelong Democrat, has won her battle with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct. In December 2020, the commission issued an admonition against Eckhardt for comments she made as Travis County Judge in 2017…
