Latest news with #TexasConstitution
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Supreme Court Greenlights Paxton's Probe Of Illegal Alien Shelter
(Texas Scorecard) – The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that Attorney General Ken Paxton can investigate and seek judicial remedies against Annunciation House, a Catholic non-profit that operates several homeless shelters throughout the El Paso area allegedly benefitting illegal aliens. Published Friday morning, the Texas Supreme Court opinion states that Paxton has the authority to file a quo warranto action challenging Annunciation House's right to do business in Texas. If Paxton's accusations are accurate, it could lead to the closure of Annunciation House. In February 2024, Paxton requested access to the organization's records after accusing it of aiding and sheltering illegal aliens. His request was denied. This was followed by an El Paso district judge's ruling that further blocked Paxton's request. Paxton appealed the dismissal of his lawsuit to the Texas Supreme Court in July 2024, and the court heard oral arguments in the case earlier this year. Justice Evan Young, who delivered the opinion, concluded that there is no lawful reason to bar Paxton from filing a quo warranto action or requesting records in this situation. Quo warrantos have a long historical standing in both common law and in the Texas Constitution. 'We conclude that the trial court erred in its constitutional holdings,' wrote Young in the opinion. 'We likewise conclude that the court's related injunctions, which prevent the attorney general from even filing a quo warranto action, were premature at best.' Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected arguments from Annunciation House that Texas law limits the attorney general's authority and that the demand of immediate access to records is unconstitutional. Young further stated that the Supreme Court's decision does not express an opinion on or discuss questions regarding Paxton's accusations against Annunciation House, but leaves them to be determined in the lower courts through usual legal processes. 'The Supreme Court was right to right to respect the AG's authority to investigate and and they were right to withhold judgment about any the substance of the case, which will be determined in due course,' attorney Tony McDonald told Texas Scorecard. 'Today is a great victory for Texas, secure borders, and the rule of law,' said Paxton. 'Annunciation House has flagrantly violated our laws by harboring illegal aliens and assisting them to enter further into our country. This cannot be allowed to continue, and I will do everything in my power to stop them and any other NGO breaking our laws.' Annunciation House declined to comment on the case at this time.
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Resolution Barring Non-Citizens From Voting in Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution on May 26 that would amend the state constitution to allow only U.S. citizens to vote. 'I just signed off on a joint resolution to make it crystal clear under the Texas Constitution that if you are not a citizen of the United States of America, you are not allowed to vote in Texas,' Abbott in a Facebook video posted May 26.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas House fails to pass automatic bail denial for repeat offenders
The Brief A proposed Texas constitutional amendment to deny bail to certain repeat offenders failed in the House. The measure fell three votes short of the 100 needed to put it on the ballot for public vote. The rejection means a key part of Governor Abbott's bail reform agenda will not move forward as a constitutional amendment. AUSTIN, Texas - A proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that would deny bail to repeat offenders of violent crimes failed in the House Tuesday afternoon. Senate Joint Resolution 87 fell three votes short of the 100 needed to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The measure had support from all Republicans in the chamber at the time of the vote and just nine Democrats. The resolution would have automatically denied bail to anyone accused of certain felonies that they had previously been convicted of a felony or were out on bond at the time of the alleged offense. The amendment would have required judges to find probable cause that the accused committed one of these offenses: murder, capital murder, aggravated assault involving serious bodily injury, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, trafficking of persons, or continuous trafficking of persons. The proposal failed 93-32 in a floor vote Monday. What they're saying Those who supported the motion said it was to make sure high-risk offenders were not released before trial. They said it would take pressure off of judges who decide bail in high-pressure or violent cases. "Had this resolution passed two years ago or four years ago, we know for certain lives would've been saved because people would not have been killed by other people out on bond," Rep. Mitch Little said. The other side Those against the resolution argued that it violates a person's right to due process and undermines the presumption of innocence. They said the amendment would cause more financial trouble for those left in jail if they were later found to be innocent. "Why not lock up all people accused of crimes indefinitely for fear that they may do something?" Rep. Joe Moody said. "I guarantee a handful of lives will be saved by doing that, too. But at what cost? The cost of our liberty. The cost of the state inflicting immense, life-destroying punishment on people who haven't been convicted of anything." SJR 87 is just one piece of a larger push in the state legislature to reform the bail process in Texas. Bail reform has been a goal of Gov. Greg Abbott this session. Last week the House pushed through Senate Joint Resolution 5, Senate Bill 664, Senate Bill 40 and Senate Bill 9. SJR 5 would add a constitutional amendment requiring judges to automatically deny bail for violent crimes like murder, rape or human trafficking, "unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will appear in court and not endanger the community." Judges who release violent criminals under the new system would be required to explain the decision in writing. Prosecutors would be able to challenge the judges' bail decisions. The amendment will be put on ballots in November for a public vote. Passing on a 113-30 vote, Senate Bill 40 would prevent municipalities from using taxpayer dollars to bail defendants out of jail. The bill helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used for public safety expenses, like law enforcement, state prosecutors and jail operations. Senate Bill 9 would prevent a judge from granting a cashless personal bond for certain offenses. Under the bill, the state could appeal bail decisions if prosecutors felt the amount was insufficient. The rule would keep the defendant in jail for up to 20 days while the appeal is considered. Bond reform has been a priority for Abbott. Currently, only capital murder suspects are exempt from bonds. Why you should care Because bail is written into the Texas Constitution, it requires a constitutional amendment to alter. That requires a two-thirds vote in both the Texas House and Senate. Bail reform was one of seven emergency items laid out by the governor earlier this year. Under the Texas constitution, bail is a right for almost everyone arrested. The exceptions are people charged with capital murder, some people charged with certain repeat felonies or certain instances where bail has been violated in the past. Dig deeper Bail is the amount of money a defendant must pay to be released from jail. The system is used to incentivize the accused to appear for court hearings. The bond, if paid in full by the accused, is refundable if they attend all hearings. Those that can't afford to pay the full amount can go through a bail bond company that usually requires a nonrefundable payment of 10% of the total amount. In exchange, the bail bond company guarantees the rest of the amount if the defendant doesn't appear in court. Other times, a judge can release a defendant on a personal recognizance bond that does not require any money, on the promise the defendant will appear for hearings. The Source Information on the bail reform bills comes from the Texas Legislature and comments made on the House floor. Backstory on Gov. Abbott's bail reform push comes from previous FOX reporting. Backstory on Texas bail laws comes from the Texas Constitution. Bail definitions come from the American Bar Association.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Plat under name that drew a crowd gets approval, frontage road projects move forward
The audience at Monday's Parker County commissioners' meeting was noticeably smaller than the last. The court approved the final plat for a subdivision to be known as Muslims United Phase II, on 4.8 acres of property in the Peaster area. The name of the entity drew criticism and multiple speakers last month who said they were concerned about the 'political agenda' of Islam, pointing to an uptick of mosques being built in Dallas and surrounding areas. It's worth noting that Phase I was approved in February, with little fanfare. The property owners plan to carve off the 4 acres to set up two separate lots for their children, who graduated from Peaster ISD and are moving back to the area. The platting process is legally necessary, as the new homes would need addresses for 9-1-1 among other things. County official Becky McCullough, speaking as a citizen Monday, said she lives in that community and has known the family her entire life. 'These are good people, and I understand the name sounds scary, but we have personally let them read the comments and things that have been said [online]...' she said. 'I went to school with [the family], my kids call him uncle. 'They've met all the legal requirements. I understand a lot of people want to make this political ... I don't really understand why it's political.' Precinct 3 Commissioner Jacob Holt said entity name was established in 1985, when the family bought the property. He said questions about a non-profit status, ag exemption requirements and other concerns prompted him to personally drive out to the property to take pictures of cows, fencing and ag equipment. Echoing other comments, 'there are things going on in this country and across the world that I don't think anybody in this room supports, with places where Shariah Law is heavily enforced,' Holt said. 'There's threats to the Bill of Rights, to the Texas Constitution ... but under the Bill of Rights and the Texas Constitution are very clear establishments of freedom of religion, freedom of ideology. 'We also value property rights very heavily in Texas.' Other staff noted all requirements had been legally met for the plat to move forward. Parker County Republican Party Chair Brady Gray thanked the county for handling residents' concerns and meeting them with diligence and understanding. 'As I said [at the last meeting], I think the concerns are well-founded, I understand why they exist and it makes sense,' he said. 'I have also heard testimony of people who know this family. 'I appreciate everything y'all have done to take precautions.' Commissioners also approved a $17,700 credit to Precinct 2 from a cost saving to the turning lane project on Farm-to-Market 920. Commissioners also approved a $98,500 with Halff and Associates for traffic studies at intersections near U.S. Highway 180, Centerpoint Road and Bankhead Highway. Freese & Nichols representative Chris Bosco said the funds had been anticipated in the original scope, but that the infrastructure consulting firm was moving faster than the Texas Department of Transportation, whom the county had thought would be doing the work. The cost includes management, collection of traffic counts, analysis and a report provided to commissioners and to TxDOT. A fee of $1.7 million was also approved for projects leading to the Interstate 20 expansion, in frontage road and ramp improvements from Dennis Road to Old Dennis Road/Bowie Drive. Bosco said Graham Associates were originally selected for the work, during which it was planned that TxDOT would do the schematic and environmental, with Graham doing final design. Projects had been put on hold, however, and Bosco said there'd been talks with the state and Graham to go ahead and let the firm do schematic work, a traffic study and environmental work to move the project forward. Commissioners OKed an additional $134,540 to Freese & Nichols to manage the work, for a total of $1,892,760. All monies were budgeted out of the county's transportation bond that passed in 2023. A belated proclamation was also read Monday, established April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. County Attorney John Forrest read the order, noting several community organizations, such as Freedom House, that provide resources to victims. 'All of these are great programs, but without awareness and acknowledging they exist ... that's why we have these months, so individuals know these services are available to them and there's help out there,' he said. Professional Victim Assistance Coordinator Lisa Mehrhoff said people come in to her office every day seeking protective orders. 'You've got applications versus final... we have over 120 protective orders,' she said in reference to the past year. 'There are some that don't meet all the elements, but they have things going on that we may need to pursue another avenue to give them help and protection.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Abbott seeks stricter bail laws after East Texas murder suspect escapes while under house arrest
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – Gov. Greg Abbott continues to seek stricter bail laws after authorities lost track of a murder suspect in Van Zandt County last week. On May 5, Trevor McEuen was due in court after he was charged with murder in connection with the 2023 fatal shooting of Aaron Martinez in Kaufman County. At around 5:33 a.m. that day, McEuen, who had been released from jail after posting a $2,000,000 bond, removed his ankle monitor and left his family's Van Zandt County home where he was confined to house arrest. $10K reward issued for 2023 fatal shooting suspect after running from Van Zandt County authorities McEuen's disappearance triggered a search of Van Zandt County and the issuing of a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest after officials concluded that he had left the county. On Wednesday, FOX4 in Dallas reported that Abbott had a roundtable discussion centered around his desire for the Texas Legislature to pass new laws that will deny bail to those charged with certain violent offences. 'Everyone involved in the bail system has a responsibility to put the safety of Texans first—from the activist judges who set weak bail to the legislators who have the opportunity to keep repeat offenders off our streets,' Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said to KETK on Monday. 'Texas must keep dangerous criminals like McEuen behind bars. This session, Gov. Abbott will work with the legislature to require judges deny bail to criminals charged with capital murder and other heinous, violent crimes. Democrats must choose – support the safety of the citizens they represent, or the criminals who kill them.' The main bill proposed this session to change Texas's bail laws is Senate Joint Resolution 5, which would present voters with a constitutional amendment that authorizes 'the denial of bail under limited circumstances to a person accused of certain violent or sexual offenses or of continuous trafficking of persons.' SJR 5 passed the Texas Senate in a 28 to 2 vote on Feb. 20. According to the Texas Tribune, similar bills have passed the Senate in recent years but have died in the House since they need a two-thirds majority vote to pass amendments to the Texas Constitution. 'The Senate has passed bail reform legislation in every session for the past six years, but, unfortunately, every single bail reform bill has died in the Texas House. The Texas Senate will continue to pass this bail reform package until the Texas House takes action,' Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said on Feb. 20. 'Repeat offenders should not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and causing chaos across our state. The Texas Senate has listened to the concerns of Texans statewide whose lives have been destroyed by criminals released on low bonds or no bonds at all set by irresponsible judges or magistrates.' Other senate bills like Senate Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Bill 9 also passed in February and are waiting to pass through the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, along with SJR 5. SJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment denying bail to undocumented immigrants charged with felonies and SB 9 denies personal bond for anyone charged with murder by manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm, violating certain court orders like family violence protective orders and making terroristic threats. Trinity County Jail overcrowding burdens local taxpayers, sheriff says The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas updated its 'Bail In Texas: A Brief for State and Local Policymakers' in January. The brief discusses the costs of unwarranted pretrial detention for local jails, those unable to afford bail and the Constitution. 'Unwarranted pretrial incarceration is costly and increases crime. It also breaks important promises in our Constitution and our laws about what justice is supposed to look like. The U.S. Constitution requires that in each case, before locking someone up before trial, the government must prove that pretrial detention is necessary at a fair hearing,' ACLU of Texas, senior manager of policy, Nick Hudson wrote in the brief. 'Furthermore, pretrial detention should only be allowed in extremely limited circumstances. State and local policymakers must take steps to eliminate wealth-based detention while respecting the presumption of innocence and the fundamental right to pretrial freedom.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
