Local Government
Lawsuit over bonds that would pay for Project Connect is taking a longer route
Although lawyers for the city of Austin and the Austin Transit Partnership were looking for a way to validate bonds needed to build Project Connect, the city’s proposed rail system, they have run into opposition from the Texas attorney general’s…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 16, 2024
Judge considering lawsuit against Central Health
After hearing about two hours of arguments on Thursday, Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum told attorneys for Travis County’s health care district and the three taxpayers who are suing Central Health, over its use of $35 million per…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 10, 2024
After city lost case on development rules, it's been ordered to pay attorneys’ fees
Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum has ruled that the city of Austin must pay $175,000 in attorneys’ fees in a case on the city’s failure to abide by a previous order requiring notice to property owners when the city is…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 2, 2024
Last week's State of the County speech points to a brighter future after historic challenges
Travis County Judge Andy Brown’s past three years of service have been a lesson in navigating disaster. In his State of the County speech last week, he recalled his term being host to a time when the Austin-Travis County area…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Apr 30, 2024
Legal showdown threatens to end Austin's light-rail plans
Austin’s voter-backed transit expansion faced a critical legal test Wednesday inside a courtroom on Guadalupe Street. Seated in front of a marble wall and flanked by Texas and U.S. flags, Travis County Judge Eric Shepperd presided as attorneys in dark…
Courts • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 26, 2024
Travis County tests out program to provide lawyers for low-income defendants at its downtown jail
After years of back and forth, Travis County is taking a small step to provide lawyers for low-income people accused of crimes. A program known as “counsel at first appearance” started in a limited capacity Tuesday, with the county providing…
Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 24, 2024
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Why is someone suing to get Travis County DA José Garza out of office – and what comes next?
A Travis County resident is trying to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Betsy Dupuis filed a lawsuit Friday under House Bill 17, which allows anyone in a county to try to remove that county’s top prosecutor. Her complaint is similar…
Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 23, 2024
Travis County DA faces removal attempt under Texas law targeting 'rogue' prosecutors
A Travis County resident is seeking to remove progressive District Attorney José Garza from office using a 2023 Texas law aimed at limiting the discretion of locally elected prosecutors. A state district judge in Comal County on Friday appointed an attorney to…
Travis County • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Apr 22, 2024
Judge rules city can’t use taxpayer money for South Central TIRZ
Travis County District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum has ruled that the city of Austin and the developers of the Statesman Planned Unit Development may not move forward with funding of the development on Lady Bird Lake with $354 million in…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 16, 2024
ACLU sues Travis County for failing to provide legal counsel
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class action lawsuit against Travis County for its failure to provide arrestees access to a court-appointed lawyer preceding their first hearing before a judge, known as counsel at first appearance, or CAFA. …
Courts • By Nick Erichson • Apr 16, 2024
Save Our Springs Alliance sues City Council over Open Meetings Act
As he threatened to do at last week’s City Council meeting, Save Our Springs Alliance Executive Director Bill Bunch has sued the city, the mayor and Council for alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Austin City Charter…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2024
Travis County officials credit moderate eclipse traffic to planning and clouds
Monday’s total solar eclipse did not bring the massive crowds and traffic that some thought the Austin area might see. The cloudy weather might have been the reason, but it also could have been the monthslong preparation for the event.…
