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 the case by early next week. Attorney Bill Aleshire is representing the plaintiffs. Assistant city […]
Courts
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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 Advertising Company sued the city in a Travis County District Court after attempting to get […]
Posted inCourts
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 watching carefully will be prospective Council candidates in districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10, […]
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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 dozen Austin residents. He argues that nearly 24,000 people who were moved into new Council […]
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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. The city will also issue a formal apology and has either already made or committed […]
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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 and 2019. At the time she made the remarks, she was the leader of the […]
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Council opts to pursue settlements in police brutality suits, puts limit on legal spending
City Council has chosen to pursue settlements in two lawsuits stemming from protests last summer outside the Austin Police Department headquarters. Council last week unanimously approved two resolutions to cap legal spending on the cases brought by Justin Howell and Anthony Evans, who were injured due to police action in two separate incidents that occurred […]
Posted inLand Development Code
An appeals court will hear arguments over Austin’s land code rewrite. Here’s what the case is about.
I can understand if your eyes glaze over at the mention of a “land code rewrite.” But whether you asked for it or not (and likely you didn’t), if you live in Austin, a case being heard this week in a Houston appeals court affects you. On Wednesday, the city of Austin is scheduled to […]
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Old City Hall could host new downtown court
As Deputy Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Olivares explained during Tuesday’s City Council work session, city staffers are recommending relocating the Downtown Austin Community Court to the Municipal Building at 124 W. Eighth St. She explained that staff had considered 22 different sites in the Central Austin area before deciding that the old City Hall is […]
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City billboard battle lands at U.S. Supreme Court today
The long fight between Reagan National Advertising and the city of Austin is nearing the final field of battle – the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawyers for each side are scheduled to make their arguments this morning over the city’s ban on off-premise digital billboards. While the city allows individual businesses, such as bars and restaurants, […]
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Public Safety Commission frowns on marshal office proposal
While it took no action on a proposal to create a marshal office within the Austin Municipal Court, the Public Safety Commission largely gave the plan a thumbs-down on Monday. Last month, City Council heard concerns from residents about the proposal and postponed a decision until the Public Safety Commission could weigh in on transferring […]
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Suit over land use rules set for argument at Court of Appeals
More than a year and a half after Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer ruled in favor of neighborhood plaintiffs and overturned Austin’s efforts to enact a new Land Development Code, the case will be heard by the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston. Lawyers for the city of Austin, plaintiff Frances Acuña and 18 […]