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Dallas attorney files brief in First Amendment case about hip-hop

2016-01-05T15:54:17-06:00

By Texas Standard KUT-FM Originally published Jan. 5, 2016 What do three Atlanta-based rappers, a professor from the University of Richmond and a 50-year-old lawyer in Dallas have in common? No, this isn't the beginning of a bad joke – these men have all stepped up to protect the speech rights of Taylor Bell, a young man that was suspended from his high school for recording a song that alleged sexual misconduct toward female students by two of the school's coaches. Bell, who raps under the moniker T-Bizzle, was kicked out of his Fulton, Mississippi, high school in 2011 after officials [...]

Dallas attorney files brief in First Amendment case about hip-hop2016-01-05T15:54:17-06:00

Texas didn’t violate First Amendment when it denied film grant, court rules

2016-01-04T15:41:54-06:00

By John Council Texas Lawyer Originally published Dec. 31, 2015 Texas officials did not forbid the producers of a B-grade action movie from filming inside the Lone Star State but "merely opted not to subsidize the film with Texas taxpayer funds," according to Judge Catharina Haynes. In a ruling certain to disappoint those who want to film B-grade action movies in Texas on the cheap, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that the producers of "Machete Kills" don't have a First Amendment right to an incentive grant from the Texas Film Commission. The background to the [...]

Texas didn’t violate First Amendment when it denied film grant, court rules2016-01-04T15:41:54-06:00

Denton City Council repeals ordinance after allegation it violated free speech

2015-12-17T14:40:29-06:00

By Jenna Duncan Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published Dec. 15, 2015 The Denton City Council voted unanimously to repeal a nearly 10-year-old ordinance stating that council members who spoke about closed session items outside of the session could face criminal charges. While the agenda said the council would consider amending the ordinance to remove any criminal penalties, council member Kevin Roden moved to take the ordinance off the books altogether. He pressed City Attorney Anita Burgess to explain there are strict laws in place at the state level to ensure ethical behavior of elected officials, and harsher punishments for those who don’t [...]

Denton City Council repeals ordinance after allegation it violated free speech2015-12-17T14:40:29-06:00

AG: Full juvenile consultant contract can be withheld

2015-12-17T14:29:35-06:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Dec. 15, 2015 The Victoria Advocate will not receive a copy of District Attorney Stephen Tyler's full contract with a consulting firm he hired to analyze the juvenile detention center. The Texas Attorney General's Office ruled Monday that the contract is excepted from disclosure. The AG's Office ruled that Tyler established the contract was privileged attorney-client communication under Texas Rule of Evidence 503 (b)(1). That rule allows a client "to refuse to disclose or to prevent from disclosing confidential communications made to facilitate the rendition of professional legal services to the client." A communication [...]

AG: Full juvenile consultant contract can be withheld2015-12-17T14:29:35-06:00

Judge dismisses UT regent Hall’s suit seeking access to admissions records

2015-12-16T01:12:58-06:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published Dec. 15, 2015 A state district judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit by University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall that sought to force the system to turn over records related to an admissions scandal. Soon after, Hall's lawyer declared that his client is appealing, meaning the case is far from over. In a one-page order, Judge Scott Jenkins of Travis County dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Hall is barred from filing another suit on the matter. Jenkins gave no written explanation for his ruling. Hall's attorney, Joseph Knight, was undeterred, [...]

Judge dismisses UT regent Hall’s suit seeking access to admissions records2015-12-16T01:12:58-06:00

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