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The Latest Breaking News from The Court of Criminal Appeals

Texas’ Top Criminal Court Has Stymied the State’s ‘Junk Science’ Law. Will SCOTUS Intervene?

If the U.S. Supreme Court renders a decision in favor of Charles Flores and others, it would likely force the Court of Criminal Appeals to relax its extremely strict handling of appeals based on shoddy and outdated science.

Texas Observer

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals primaries: Who is running and what to know

The criminal court decides death penalty case appeals and rules on petitions for those who believe they’ve been wrongfully detained. Here’s a look at who’s running for the court’s three seats on the 2026 ballot.

The Texas Tribune

Renewed focus on Roberson case is latest in deluge of political pressure aimed at Texas judiciary

The latest calls to stave off the politically charged execution come after a summer where GOP leaders asked the state courts to kick Democrats out of office and throw Beto O’Rourke in jail.

The Texas Tribune

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Texas Senate once again tries to give the attorney general authority to prosecute election crimes

The Texas Tribune

Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas House

Last year, lawmakers waded into a dramatic feud over the case of death row inmate Robert Roberson, seen as the embodiment of the failures of Texas’ junk science law.

The Texas Tribune

Criminal appeals court to rehear election wrongdoing case involving Washington County Republican

The Court of Criminal Appeals will rehear a case it threw out last year. Three of the judges became targets of Attorney General Ken Paxton over another ruling and lost reelection.

The Texas Tribune

“Actually innocent”: Judge recommends overturning death row inmate Melissa Lucio’s conviction, sending case to Texas high court

The Cameron County judge also found the state relied on false testimony during her capital murder trial, according to court documents.

The Texas Tribune

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Paxton’s picks cement Republicans’ hold on Texas’ highest criminal court

Three new faces will join the bench, but the political balance of power will remain the same on the Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Texas Tribune

AG Paxton Says GOP Rep 'Must Resign' After Confession of Texting Judge on Behalf of Death Row Inmate

Rep. Jeffrey Leach apologized and dismissed Paxton's request : "I'm not afraid to admit when I mess up."

Latin Times

After Roberson ruling, upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals election in the spotlight

Three of the five judges who allowed Robert Roberson’s execution to proceed will be leaving the court after Paxton-backed primary challenges.

The Texas Tribune

When the science crumbles, Texas law says a conviction could, too. That rarely happens.

Texas’ 2013 law that allows for new trials in cases with flawed scientific evidence was pioneering. But the state’s highest criminal court has rejected most of those challenges.

The Texas Tribune

Texas sets execution date for East Texas man accused in shaken baby case

Lawyers for Robert Robertson say the science used to sentence him to death is questionable and that prior health issues could explain the death of his 2-year-old daughter in 2003.

The Texas Tribune

State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucio’s death sentence

In a rare joint statement, the district attorney and the defense agreed that prosecutors withheld evidence that could point to a Rio Grande Valley woman’s innocence in the death of her toddler.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine narrowly survives heated primary centered on judicial ethics

Devine will face 281st District Judge Christine Vinh Weems in November’s general election.

The Texas Tribune

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The Texas Tribune

Ken Paxton successfully ousts three Republican criminal appeal court judges

Three incumbent judges with nearly a century of criminal law experience fell victim to Paxton’s political revenge tour after they ruled against the attorney general in a 2021 voter fraud case.

The Texas Tribune

Texas executes Ivan Cantu for Dallas murders despite doubts of his guilt

Faith leaders and jurors from the original trial launched a public campaign to reconsider recanted testimony in Cantu’s case. Texas courts declined.

The Texas Tribune

Paxton’s push to oust incumbents puts spotlight on Court of Criminal Appeals primaries

The attorney general has tried to supplant eight Republican judges on the court after they rejected his efforts to unilaterally prosecute voter fraud. The judges are now pushing back.

The Texas Tribune

Three court of criminal appeal judges up for reelection targeted by Ken Paxton’s political revenge machine

Paxton promised to go after the Republican judges over their 2021 ruling that struck down the attorney general’s ability to unilaterally prosecute voter fraud.

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The Texas Tribune

Texas courts struggle to resolve criminal appeals that got lost in Harris County for decades

Overlooked in the churn of one of the country’s busiest courthouses, the forgotten appeals included two death penalty cases, and one from a man who’s already finished his 20-year sentence.

Ballotpedia

Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals issue nine opinions from May 1-7

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued five opinions from May 1-7. The Texas Supreme Court issued four opinions from May 1-7. Both courts are the state’s courts of last resort. As of May 7, the court of criminal appeals issued 130 opinions in 2023 — 33 more than this…

Texas Observer

Austin PD’s Bad DNA Analysis Nearly Cost This Man His Life

Billy Faircloth was sentenced to 60 years in prison, but an appeals court overturned his conviction.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Republicans, once allied with prosecutors, seek to rein them in

Some local district and county attorneys have said they will not pursue abortion-related cases, or prioritize certain drug, property and election crimes.

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