Tag Archives: Travis County District Attorney

Austin’s redemption arc: The embarrassing recent failures and hard-fought reforms in our city’s response to sexual assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The city of Austin has garnered national attention for its prior failures to investigate cases and support survivors in their healing and, more recently, for its survivor-led reforms. The Austin Monitor took…

Public Safety • By Mina Shekarchi • Apr 7, 2025

Travis County grand jury decides against charging Christopher Taylor with murder again

Austin police officer Christopher Taylor will no longer face prosecution for the fatal shooting of Mike Ramos in 2020. The shooting was a month before the murder of George Floyd, and Ramos’ name was invoked in racial justice protests in…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jun 27, 2024

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

José Garza pushes aside Jeremy Sylestine in Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney

Incumbent District Attorney José Garza claimed victory Tuesday in the race to keep his job as Travis County district attorney. As of 10 p.m., Garza had a more than 30-point lead over Jeremy Sylestine, picking up 38,379 votes to Sylestine’s…

Elections • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 5, 2024

Austin police investigating stabbing of pro-Palestinian demonstrator as hate crime

Austin police are investigating a stabbing near the University of Texas campus over the weekend as a hate crime. Zacharia Doar, 23, was grabbing a bite to eat with three of his friends Sunday after attending a rally in support…

Public Safety • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Feb 7, 2024

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Police union leadership says oversight lawsuit further stalls labor contract negotiations

After nearly a year without a police labor contract, city leadership has signaled its hope for – and taken steps toward – a new agreement in early 2024. But incoming Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock says recent developments, including…

Police • By Emma Freer • Dec 15, 2023

Travis County dismisses charges against APD officers who used beanbag rounds in 2020 protests

The Travis County district attorney has dropped assault charges against 17 Austin police officers who used so-called “less lethal” beanbag rounds over a weekend of racial justice protests in 2020. District Attorney José Garza pursued charges against 21 officers after several Austinites…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 5, 2023

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Data collection issues threaten initiative to prevent gun violence

A disconnect between the Austin Police Department and a criminal justice reform organization could delay a new violence reduction initiative, Travis County officials said Tuesday. The glitch came to light Tuesday during a progress report to the Travis County Commissioners…

Public Safety • By Ken Chambers • Dec 4, 2023

Jury deadlocked in murder trial of Austin police officer who shot Michael Ramos

The trial of the Austin police officer accused of murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of Michael Ramos ended in a mistrial on Wednesday morning. This is the second time the case has ended in mistrial. The first time came…

Courts • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 16, 2023

Domestic violence task force reports milestones

Gathered to kick off its awareness month, the Austin/Travis County Domestic Violence Task Force reported important progress since the difficult days of 2020. After a record number of requests for protective orders during the pandemic – and a record number…

Public Safety • By Ken Chambers • Oct 6, 2023

In blistering motion, state seeks limited gag order in Taylor murder trial

In a blistering motion filed last week, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office requested a limited gag order in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor. Taylor is charged with murder in the 2020 shooting of Mike Ramos. “The…

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