An undocumented man from Nicaragua—Bernardo Tercero—was found guilty of capital murder in October of 2000 and received the death penalty as punishment for the conviction. Now years later on the eve of Tercero’s planned execution, the Texas Court of Appeals, the highest criminal court within the state, has granted a stay of execution. Tercero Files […]

In a criminal trial—especially one where the penalties if convicted may be severe—few things are more important than accurate evidence. Unfortunately, shoddy evidence types have been used—and accepted as permissible in court—in prior convictions in Texas. From dog-sniffing lineups to poor forensic practices, innocent people have been put behind bars as a result of inaccurate […]

When charged with a theft crime in Texas, understanding the specifics of the crime you’ve been charged with is important. Let’s take a closer look at the three primary theft crimes in Texas—robbery, grand larceny, and embezzlement—and their associated penalties. Texas Robbery Texas Penal Code Title 7, Chapter 29 reads that a person commits an […]

An antiquated law on Texas’ book has made missing school a crime. And what’s more, the illegality of the act of being truant is something that the state has heavily enforced; approximately 100,000 students per year have been sent to criminal court or/and jail for missing school. Now, Texas Governor Greg Abbot has signed into […]

While it may not be the most heinous crime to commit, speeding is certainly illegal. What’s more, Texas’ Transportation Code positively does set—and allow for the enforcement of—speed limits throughout the state. But according to one man who was pulled over for driving 50 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone, speeding […]