When Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to the media about the Uvalde school massacre, he said, “It could have been worse.” We knew then that 19 children and two teachers were dead. In my career I have had experience with child homicides. I worked as a…

The Texas Education Agency did such a bad job providing special education services that U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos noticed. DeVos stated, “Far too many students in Texas had been precluded from receiving supports and services…

We live in an amazing time. We can turn on smart devices in our home with our voices. Those devices turn other devices and appliances on and off. We can get almost anything in the world delivered to our doorstep by clicking on apps. How could our…

When I hear about good officers who do not want to be judged by the acts of bad cops, I think about my great-great-grandfather. Lloyd Parks Criss was a U.S. Customs officer living in Galveston during Prohibition. He was transferred from working on…

America cannot deliver on her promise of “justice for all” until systemic racism is eliminated. Ridding our injustice system of institutional racism requires changes in law and culture. But first we must speak truth to power about how our injustice…

Galveston County's representative got a conveniently timed tweet from the president this week.

And a Texas representative proposes program to help pay for costs of retired war dogs.

“First we have got to get Gerald elected. Then we have to get him some psychiatric help.” I heard this said by one of his supporters at a candidate forum over 15 years ago. Gerald was an incumbent county elected official facing a primary and possible…

Federal Judge Lee H. Rosenthal issued a landmark ruling prohibiting Harris County from keeping poor persons in jail who were accused of misdemeanors, but unable to afford to post bond. Rosenthal wrote that Harris County was “violating equal…

The press is the only profession specifically mentioned in the United States Constitution. In the First Amendment, the founders protected the media from retaliation and interference when reporting about the government. The public’s right to know what…

I don’t care about using politically correct language. I do care about avoiding language that is unkind, hurtful and discriminatory. That does not make me weak. Nor does it make those offended by such language weak. I wish I could say that I never…

I don’t care about using politically correct language. I do care about avoiding language that is unkind, hurtful and discriminatory.

In today’s courtrooms lawyers come to trial armed with iPads, PowerPoints, laser pens and laptops hooked up to large drop-down screens. These electronic tools help present evidence to juries composed of persons hooked on social media, the internet…

The United States Department of Justice released a report citing the Baltimore Police Department with regularly violating the Constitutional rights of black citizens. The report concluded that a law enforcement culture of “us vs. them” contributed to…

I was riding in a police car as a young prosecutor. Lights were flashing. Sirens on. Adrenalin pumping including mine. It was exhilarating, scary, and dangerous. Officers must frequently make charging decisions “running hot” with the adrenalin still…

The Department of Justice sent out a letter March 14 to thousands of courts in 50 states warning their “Dear Colleagues” to reform their practices in collecting court fees and fines. The DOJ sent this strongly encouraging review and if needed,…

I handed the discovery request I had filed to my incarcerated client. He asked if this was one of those “Morton Motions,” I replied that it was. He literally jumped for joy clutching the papers to his chest in the attorney-client booth and cried out…

I handed the discovery request I had filed to my incarcerated client. He asked if this was one of those “Morton Motions,” I replied that it was. He literally jumped for joy clutching the papers to his chest in the attorney-client booth and cried out…

Ask any prosecutor, defense attorney or judge in Texas how long it takes to get test results from a crime lab. The answer is four to nine months, more likely nine and often longer. For evidence of forensic analysis and expert crime lab testimony to…

At the end of 2015, Texas lost the King of Torts. Joe Jamail died in late December at the age of 90. It seems strange knowing he is never going to be in court again. His impact on our civil justice system was huge. Texas Monthly writer John Spong…