COURT

A former Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy has been convicted by a jury on multiple counts of child sex abuse.

Minneapolis is the first large city in the US to allow the Islamic call to prayer to be broadcast publicly. So far only one mosque is doing so, three times a day. But after consulting with neighbors more plan to start their own. (June 1) (AP video: Jessie Wardarski)

The jury hasn't had a chance to make its decision in the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial, but the court of public opinion seems to have its verdict.

A 70-year-old man from Pleasanton was sentenced to 75 for receipt of child pornography on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Demonstrators have given up on changing the Supreme Court justices’ minds.

While on the campaign trail, Governor Greg Abbot (R-TX) slammed gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) for O’Rourke’s stand on abortion, alleging O’Rourke “believes that a fully developed a baby, just seconds away from delivery, can still be aborted and killed.” Abbot delivered his inflammatory remarks in the wake of O’Rourke’s pro-choice rally in Houston. O’Rourke held the rally in support of abortion rights following the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signaling the Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark court case that established a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion.

CCTV of "altercations" which led up to the stabbing of Ava White is also played to the jury.

One way to illustrate the reach of the leaked draft by the Supreme Court Justice is to look at what the options for defending reproductive rights would be in its wake.

A San Antonio man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Tuesday for the brutal attack of his former girlfriend with a metal baseball bat in 2019, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

A 26-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a murder charge in 2020 for her boyfriend’s death was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday.

Mary McCann's son and daughter were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, a court hears.

Attorneys for the one-time Bexar County Precinct 2 constable successfully argued during a 90-minute hearing before Judge Velia Meza decided that they did not have sufficient time to analyze hours of undercover audio recordings from the case.

In comments, council members tried to get out front of likely criticism that they were were throwing cash at an untried company.

Krishna Singh was found guilty of 54 charges of kissing, groping and giving inappropriate examinations to women.

What to make of confirmation hearings marked by grandstanding and racial attacks; and how controversy around Clarence and Ginni Thomas is further eroding the Court’s reputation.

Residents with unresolved tickets from the Mission Municipal Court are being granted a temporary reprieve. Beginning Friday, the municipal court will be offering an amnesty period that will run until April 29. According to a Mission news release, any “failure to appear” and warrant fees will be waived; however, all fines are required to be paid in full and in person. “It is the perfect opportunity for people to pay unsettled tickets at a reduced rate and clear up those outstanding warrants,” Mayor Armando O’Caña said in the release. For more information about the amnesty period, call the Mission Municipal Court at (956) 584- 5150.

The determination came in a ruling addressing sensitive documents that Trump ally and conservative lawyer John Eastman had resisted turning over to the congressional Jan. 6 committee.

Smartmatic says claims aired by the network contributed to losing $2.7 billion in business through 2025. In a new suit, Fox says that figure represents absurdly huge growth for the small business.

Commissioner’s Court passed a "historic" motion on Monday paving the way for a new...

A judge rules the 17-year-old should be given the chance of a potential life-saving operation.

Tamron Hall has plenty on her hands with a successful daytime talk show, but she's going back to her journalism roots with a Court TV series, “Someone They Knew,” about murder stories where the victims knew their killer.

From a Black woman making history reaching the nation’s highest court, to an innovative Black-owned business, here’s how some are making moves.

From a Black woman making history reaching the nation’s highest court, to an innovative Black-owned business, here’s how some are making moves.

San Antonio grandmother seeking custody of her grandson she's been raising since her daughter was accidentally killed by police in a hostage situation with her common-law husband.

Jurors found out about the judge's determination on the case as they were was still deliberating.

The settlement is the latest chapter in a saga involving Jeffrey Epstein, his procurer Ghislaine Maxwell, and their former friend Prince Andrew.

A burn ban will go into effect for the unincorporated areas of Guadalupe County beginning Wednesday.

The court could make it much harder for Democrats to challenge maps in federal court as racially gerrymandered.

A maverick judge in Michigan known for ripping into criminal defendants is catching criticism again from a higher court. The Michigan Court of Appeals suggested Jackson County Judge John McBain is ripe for a misconduct investigation for how he handled the sentencing of a woman convicted of killing her boyfriend on Valentine's Day 2015. “If a trial judge is unable to follow the law as determined by a higher appellate court, the trial judge is in the wrong line of work,” the appeals court said in a 3-0 opinion Tuesday.

Amina-Faye Johnson suffered 41 fractures to her ribs and 24 more to other limbs.

In the short term, not much.

The justices have been splitting hairs for decades to dodge a 1964 civil rights law that plainly bans discrimination on the basis of race. They can correct that mistake now.

At Monday’s Webb County Commissioner’s Court meeting, a Laredo councilmember and the...

The court’s liberal justices issued fiery dissents saying it had become complicit in establishing an “unconstitutional chill on abortion care,” and calling the handling of the case “a disaster for the rule of law and a grave disservice to women in Texas, who have a right to control their own bodies.”

Maxwell was convicted of conspiring to recruit and groom teenage girls to be sexually abused by her partner Jeffrey Epstein.

A San Antonio woman who had until Tuesday to pay back more than $201,000 in restitution in two felony fraud cases has gotten an extension after convincing a judge she is close to extracting equity from property tied up in a related civil lawsuit.

Peter Swailes admitted a slavery charge after the man had to live in an outbuilding for decades.

Two priests who climbed on to a rush-hour train are acquitted, along with a third climate activist.

Virginia Giuffre’s settlement in 2009 with Jeffrey Epstein may not free others from liability, ruling says.

A leaked video shows Australian journalists giving candid opinions on the tennis star's visa saga.

The eventual ruling by the court could have an impact on some 80 million workers.

The ruling ended a years-long legal battle that had raised questions about civil rights, religious freedoms and sexual orientation in Northern Ireland.

The chief of family division in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office says many sexual assault cases are very rarely fully prosecuted because victims can't be located or don't want to face their attacker in court.

The singer and his son clashed with a Florida hotel guard who refused them entry to a party.

Sandra Vasquez-Kayruz believes her husband was with her as she confronted the woman who killed him.

Sergei Tikhanovsky, a former presidential candidate, is convicted after a trial condemned as a sham.

Appeals court rejects Trump bid to keep Jan. 6 White House records secret from Congress. Former president Donald Trump set to ask Supreme Court to review before release.

The commission didn't take positions on issues like court-packing. But it did lay out the pillars of debate on some key reform ideas. Here's what it said.

The people put in charge of Britney's conservatorship after Jamie was axed wrote a statement saying her father's actions were "procedurally improper."

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar called a press conference Monday afternoon to announce changes to BCSO’s policy on body worn cameras.

A Turkish court has extended the imprisonment of philanthropist Osman Kavala, whose case caused a diplomatic crisis with the U.S. and other Western countries after they called for his release

The original voice actress for the ‘90s "X-Men: The Animated Series" will not be returning to reprise her role as X-Men member Jubilee in the reboot. Petitions: On June 19, 2020, fan Stuart Green tweeted that he started a petition to ask Disney and Marvel to bring back the animated series. Close to 900 fans rallied together to support it, reportedly including Alyson Court, the original voice actress for the energy-blasting Jubilee.

The mayor of a northern Italian city is calling for stiffer laws to protect women after the slaying of a woman allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, who had recently received a plea deal for repeatedly stalking her after their breakup

The Supreme Court could rule as soon as Monday on Texas’ ban on abortion after roughly six weeks.

The Hungarian government calls the law the “Stop Soros” act.

Parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting sued Alex Jones over his claims that the massacre was a hoax.

An Israeli family has asked an appeals court to halt the planned return of a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable crash in Italy to his relatives there

Civil case opens into the murder of Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in London in 1984.

Court case hears claims about whether a letter written by the Duchess of Sussex was private.

As Halloween approaches, it’s not unusual to see people dressed up as the legendary movie murderer, Michael Myers. But, the last place you’d expect to see the Halloween killer is in a Texas courthouse.

The U.S. Supreme Court raised the stakes in the politically explosive fight over reproductive rights by agreeing to hear arguments on Nov. 1 on a Texas law that has largely shut down legal abortion in the state. The court won’t directly decide if the law -- which bans almost all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy -- violates Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized the procedure nationwide. Nor will the justices be addressing whether to overturn its abortion-rights precedents; that’s an i

The U.S. Supreme Court raised the stakes in the politically explosive fight over reproductive rights by agreeing to hear arguments on Nov. 1 on a Texas law that has largely shut down legal abortion in the state. The court won’t directly decide if the law -- which bans almost all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy -- violates Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized the procedure nationwide. Nor will the justices be addressing whether to overturn its abortion-rights precedents; that’s an i

Both liberal and conservative justices have long pushed to expand liberties. Overturning abortion rights would end that pan-ideological momentum.

But if justices take up the issue, they should overturn the constitutional right to abortion, it said.

A burn ban will go into effect for the unincorporated areas of Guadalupe County beginning Wednesday.

Although the restrictions are unenforceable, having been outlawed by the federal government, property owners who don’t want to see those racial restrictions in their property deeds, can have them removed through the courts under a new state law.

The trial of Melissa Peoples was expected to begin Aug. 24, but will be rescheduled for later this year. It was reset due to the current moratorium restricting in-person jury trials.

Spurs Sports and Entertainment publicly unveiled plans today for a new nearly 50-acre development on the far Northwest Side that includes a state-of-the-art training facility for the San Antonio Spurs, medical and research offices, retail, park and community space.

EAGLES Court was established in 2020. The mission is to help teen boys in foster care reach their full potential.

A 27-year-old San Antonio man was sentenced to 29 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2011 murder and robbery, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

A San Antonio plead guilty on Tuesday in a multimillion-dollar bribery and government contract fraud scheme, according to The United States Attorney’s Office.

The trial of former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-Vela and her former captain, Mark Garcia, has moved a step closer to the beginning.

In case you haven’t turned on your TV yet this week, you may not know that the trial of the police officer who killed George Floyd last summer is underway.

SAN ANTONIO – The circumstances under which the two latest grand juries served were anything but ideal, with the pandemic ongoing and the recent winter storms in the Bexar County area. The 12-member panels met alternately twice weekly in the cavernous central jury room in the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center basement, which made maintaining social distancing ideal. The juries reviewed a combined total of about 1,600 cases, down considerably from a usual average of 2,000 cases per grand jury, according to Rangel. AdHe said maintaining the secrecy that by law must surround grand juries was a challenge due to the sheer size of the central jury room, which can accommodate more than 600 people. “We had extra security outside the central jury room so that nobody would go into the room that is normally open to the public,” Rangel said.

Water also seeped through walls down to three courtrooms on the fourth floor, 187th District Court Judge Stephanie Boyd said. ”We had some major damage in our court coordinator’s office,” Boyd said. ”We’re trying to keep the courthouse safe from folks coming in and getting sick as a result of the pandemic,” Rangel said. Rangel said that will likely continue in spite of any water damage. Related: Water pipe bust floods Bexar County DA’s office, damages files

SAN ANTONIO – Citing a long rap sheet, a judge has denied an accused killer’s bid to have his bond reduced. Deeply concerned over testimony detailing 24-year-old Jacob Embrey’s criminal record, 226th State District Judge Velia Meza denied Embrey’s request to reduce his $200,000 bond on Wednesday. “In looking at just the video itself, in the beginning, we were able to get a good description of the suspect,” Pena said during testimony. The suspect was then identified as Embrey, who Pena testified had an extensive criminal record, including arrests on drug and assault charges. “I have requested a $75,000 bond, but anything that you feel might be sufficient would be greatly appreciated”, defense attorney Eric DeWalt told Judge Meza.

Video of the court proceedings, released by Judge Roy Ferguson on social media and on YouTube, shows how the call happened. IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. #lawtwitter #OhNo @zoom_ushttps://t.co/I0zaj0wu6K — Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021“Mr. Ad“Can you hear me judge?” Ponton says. — Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021Watch the video in full in the player below:Related: Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlog

”We’re going to make sure that the jail is not the reason for that backlog”, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday. He said he is making additional space available in order so that more virtual hearings can be conducted at the jail. ”The reality of it is virtual hearings take up a lot more time,” Rangel said as he welcomed the sheriff’s help. Ad“We’re doing everything we can behind the scenes to keep the process moving,” Salazar said. “We know that jury trials are going to be put off for the foreseeable future.”RELATED: District judge says she is ‘fearful’ of COVID-19 risks related to recent courtroom clerk transfers

SAN ANTONIO – When a clerk, who had been assigned to her court, was recently reassigned to another court, 187th District Court Judge Stephanie Boyd became concerned. ”With COVID, of course, everyone is fearful of a lot of cross-movement,” Boyd said Wednesday. Boyd said, beyond concerns for her staff and people doing business in her court, she has a personal concern. Bexar County District Clerk Mary Angie Garcia said that while she tries to limit transfers it is unavoidable during the coronavirus pandemic. “We have currently, right now, seven clerks who are out with COVID quarantine and we have to shuffle,” Garcia said.

SAN ANTONIO – When San Antonio’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march was canceled as local COVID-19 numbers continued to climb, one judge posed a question to his judicial colleagues. ”How can we put a message out to the community letting them know that we’re still with them on this day?” Quesada asked. The video, Quesada said, was “a sort of substitute” for the March. ”Imagine trying to get them all to do a video in a certain time so that we can have it all ready for MLK Day,” Quesada said. Watch the video in full in the player below:Related: San Antonio community leaders reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

SAN ANTONIO – When she was elected to the 289th Juvenile District Court bench last November, Jackie Valdes said the new position allows her to continue her mission as a juvenile prosecutor. “It was always from the perspective of what is in the best interest of this child to rehabilitate,” Valdes said Monday. Valdes said her mother, Senior District Judge Maria Teresa “Tessa” Herr, encouraged her to seek election. “I felt like the citizens of Bexar County should have a judge who was invested and knowledgeable and cares enough to show up,” Valdes said. “It just amazes me that she ends up as a judge in a juvenile court where she still can do what she loves and that is to help kids.”Related: State district court judge conducts inspection of juvenile facilities in Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO – Though the moratorium on jury service that was ordered last spring amid fears of spreading the coronavirus remains in place in Bexar County, it has been modified to allow for social distancing. On Monday, the first jury summonses for virtual civil jury trials were mailed to prospective jurors. Schulze, along with Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel and the Bexar County IT Department, developed the new virtual jury system. Rangel says the system only applies to civil jury trials. The entire proceedings, from jury summons to jury selection and testimony, will be done remotely.

SAN ANTONIO – The county is examining potential meeting locations for grand juries in the Bexar County Courthouse complex after some jurors expressed concerns for their safety given the rising number of COVID-19 cases locally. With safety protocols in place, grand juries have been meeting throughout the pandemic. On Thursday, State District Judge Velia Meza toured meeting sites for juries within the complex. The locations are not being revealed since all grand jury meetings are secret and confidential. Spike in COVID-19 cases prompts Bexar County judge to temporarily postpone jury selection in capital murder trial

SAN ANTONIO – As the moratorium on jury trials keeps being extended in Bexar County, so does the time it takes to get a case to trial, pushing some defendants to argue that they are not getting their constitutionally guaranteed right to a speedy trial. Ruben Loredo, 56, is facing a felony charge and four misdemeanor charges in Bexar County for alleging violating protective orders. “I’ve been waiting for a long time.”Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar CountyThat wait became even longer last March when a moratorium on jury trials was ordered due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Roe said his only other option is to agree to a bench trial before a judge rather than a jury trial. Jury service resumption in Bexar County gets closer look

As of March, about 106,000 DACA recipients lived in Texas, and another 86,000 were potentially eligible to apply, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Friday's order follows last month's ruling that acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf wasn’t appointed to the position according to DHS guidelines, rendering a July memo issued on the DACA program invalid. In that memo, DACA protections, which also include a renewable two-year work permit, were slashed to one year. But in his November ruling Garaufis said Wolf’s succession didn't follow proper procedure after former secretary Kevin McAleenan left the post in October. “DHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated," Garaufis wrote.

SAN ANTONIO – The moratorium on jury trials ordered in March over concerns about the spreading of COVID-19 will end on Dec. 31. The decision on whether to extend the moratorium is up to Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel. “We know that we are in a current surge of COVID cases.”Jury service resumption in Bexar County gets closer lookSeveral judges in the criminal, civil and misdemeanor courts at the Bexar County Courthouse are anxious to begin conducting in person jury trials. “I believe that we should consider resuming jury trials on a case-by-case basis,” County Court 11 Judge Tommy Stolhandske said. Stolhandske also noted that Harris and Kendall counties have already resumed in-person jury trials.

Man arrested after causing crash that killed teen during attempt to kill himselfBurke ran from the scene but was caught by police soon after the crash. “Colby is a very high functioning, very intelligent young man.”, said Dan Burke, Colby Burke’s father, during the hearing on Monday. Dan Burke said his son is being evaluated by a psychiatrist and treated with medication while in jail. “Colby started a new medication about a month ago -- I believe four weeks ago, if I’m not mistaken. “I’m not convinced that he’s not going to get into a car and do it again,” Meza said.

SAN ANTONIO – On Thursday, 399th District Court Judge Frank Castro issued an order noting that deputy district clerks assigned to district courts serve at the pleasure of the judges. The order concluded by threatening to hold Bexar County District Clerk Mary Angie Garcia in contempt of court is she did not replace two clerks assigned to his court by Monday. Castro had requested the transfer earlier, according to Garcia. We would do what we had to do,” Garcia said. “We’re just trying to make it a smooth operational office,” Garcia said.

SAN ANTONIO – The chief Bexar County juvenile probation officer announced Friday that the Bexar County Juvenile Board was awarded a $622,000 federal grant to assist juveniles with mental health issues in transitioning from residential treatment facilities. “(The program) allows us to work with kids at a time when they’re very vulnerable,” Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Lynne Wilkerson said Friday. “We expect it to include a clinician, an assigned probation officer, of course, a case manager and a family partner,” Wilkerson said. When the program begins operating, it will be available to all three Bexar County juvenile courts. RELATED: New mental health dispatch program sees 7 mental health calls in first week

SAN ANTONIO – Opposition to conduct virtual civil jury trials in Bexar County to address the backlog of court cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic is growing. Another attempt at conducting a virtual civil jury trial is scheduled for November 9th, Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Wednesday. In September, a trial failed when all parties could not agree to the proceeding, as is mandated by a Texas Supreme Court order allowing virtual civil jury trials. The president of the local American Board of Trial Advocates says 90% of the group’s membership opposes virtual civil jury trials. “Most of our membership thinks that it would be very difficult to get a true measure of justice from a virtual jury panel.”

Joseph Woolard faces a long list of charges, including a murder charge stemming from a wrong-way traffic wreck last spring. Woolard was a fugitive facing attempted capital murder charges stemming from a shootout with police in March 2019. During a pretrial hearing on Friday, 144th District Court Judge Melisa Skinner recused herself since she had been the prosecutor assigned to Woolard’s attempted capital murder case. “I’ve had a lot to do with speaking with the family members in those cases, and so I would absolutely have a conflict,” Judge Skinner said Friday. The case’s future is unclear since Skinner is facing challenger Judge Michael Mery in next month’s election.

Today is Friday, Oct. 2, the 276th day of 2020. On Oct. 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court as the court opened its new term. In 1941, during World War II, German armies launched an all-out drive against Moscow; Soviet forces succeeded in holding onto their capital. In 1944, German troops crushed the two-month-old Warsaw Uprising, during which a quarter of a million people had been killed. (Miller was tried three times; he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but was released after nine years.)

SAN ANTONIO – Effective Thursday, the positions of 16 part-time Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputies tasked with providing security at the county courthouse complex entrances have been eliminated due to budget cuts made by the Commissioners Court. “I feel like (commissioners are) using a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday. Bexar County Commissioners discuss trimming courthouse security staffThe temporary problem, he said, is reduced traffic at the courthouse due to the pandemic. He said the changes would not compromise the safety of courthouse staff and the public. “But it still does present some problems for us.”Salazar’s Republican challenger in next month’s election, Gerald Rickhoff, said that he shares the sheriff’s concern for providing adequate courthouse security.

Sodsai Dalzell appears in court for an arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles. Dalzell is charged with attempted kidnapping of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana's granddaughter. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)

SAN ANTONIO – Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was once quoted saying that there will be enough women on the high court when all nine justices are women. In South Texas, the 4th Court of Appeals became the first appellate court in the country made up solely of women in 2005. Justice Sandee Bryan Marion is the chief justice. “I think that diversity is a great thing,” Justice Marion said Friday. Noting the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marion said, “Justice Ginsburg has had a tremendous influence on all women, all women judges, all women lawyers and even little girls.

SAN ANTONIO – In the Texas Supreme Court’s most recent order addressing jury trials during the pandemic, it said virtual civil court jury trials can be conducted starting Oct. 1. “Courts can compel attorneys for both sides, whether they agree or not, to have a virtual jury trial,” Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said, referring to the order Monday. He said that he questions virtual trials, period. In his order, which he is drafting this week, Rangel said he has moved the date for virtual jury trials in Bexar County to begin on Nov. 1. Rangel plans to present his local order to the judges, as well as Regional Administrative Judge Sid Harle by week’s end.

From court to curb: Spurs set to roll out new food truck with San Antonio favoritesPublished: September 17, 2020, 11:34 amA new Spurs themed food truck serving some AT&T Center favorites will hit the road for the first time next month.

SAN ANTONIO – Trimming the courthouse security staff was among the suggestions made during a Bexar County Commissioners budget workshop, a suggestion to which the sheriff took strong exception. The halls of the Bexar County Courthouse and Cadena-Reeves Justice Center are virtually empty since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March. Bexar County constables unhappy with proposed county budgetBexar County Manager David Smith took note of the empty halls when he addressed Commissioners Court and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar during a budget workshop on Thursday as they discussed security staffing in both buildings. “We recommend nine vacant court security positions be deleted for, I think, obvious, reasons,” Smith said. There is one more budget workshop scheduled for next Monday before the budget is formally adopted the following day.

BOERNE, Texas – When former Kendall County Judge Kirsten Cohoon took her place as 451st District Court Judge in January 2018, she became the county’s first elected State District Court Judge, defeating an incumbent appointed by the governor. While creating the court, the Legislature eliminated several positions, including the county judge, leaving Cohoon with a challenging workload. “I really don’t think of that,” Cohoon said. “And I don’t think Kendall County does either.”In Kendall County, the district clerk’s office, county clerk’s office, district attorney’s office and four justice of the peace offices are all led by women, leaving Cohoon in good company. “I would like to see us work harder and be able to be back in court,” Cohoon said.