open court

Attorney held in contempt after challenging judge’s limit on public access to court

2014-07-03T15:53:34-05:00

By Adriana M. Chavez El Paso Times Originally published July 2, 2014 A prominent El Paso lawyer was found in contempt of court and sentenced to 30 days in jail last year after challenging a Jury Duty Court judge's efforts to limit public access to the courtroom. Stuart Schwartz, a shareholder at the ScottHulse law firm who also is a former county commissioner, served a night in jail before being freed on a personal recognizance bond. The contempt charge from Jury Duty Court Judge Jerry Woodard was later dismissed. In citing Schwartz for contempt, Woodard acknowledged he had erred on constitutional [...]

Attorney held in contempt after challenging judge’s limit on public access to court2014-07-03T15:53:34-05:00

Star-Telegram, other news outlets go to court over closed juvenile hearings

2014-02-10T22:14:00-06:00

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published Jan. 30, 2014 Six major media outlets in Dallas-Fort Worth joined Wednesday to file a plea in intervention in state District Judge Jean Boyd’s Tarrant County juvenile court to ask that any hearings regarding Ethan Couch be held in open court. The motion also asks that the media outlets be given a chance to be heard if the judge considers motions to close a hearing to the public or makes a decision to do that on her own. Boyd made national news recently for sentencing Couch, 16, to 10 years’ probation and therapy for driving drunk and [...]

Star-Telegram, other news outlets go to court over closed juvenile hearings2014-02-10T22:14:00-06:00

Why Harold Simmons’ will should not be sealed

2014-01-28T14:42:16-06:00

By Paul Watler Column published in The Dallas Morning News Jan. 27, 2014 The executor of the estate of billionaire Harold Simmons has asked a Dallas County probate court to seal the late billionaire’s will and probate file. The papers should be closed because people who disagree with Simmons’ controversial political activity might want to have a look, according to the motion. No one but his widow and sole heir has a legitimate need to review the probate file, the court was told. The motion also cited the privacy and safety of his beneficiary and security of estate assets to justify [...]

Why Harold Simmons’ will should not be sealed2014-01-28T14:42:16-06:00

Lawyers withdraw motion to bar public from teen suspect’s trial

2013-10-25T17:00:35-05:00

By Mitch Mitchell Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published Oct. 22, 2013 FORT WORTH — The attorneys for a 14-year-old accused of killing his 5-year-old neighbor withdrew a request to bar the public from the trial during a hearing on Tuesday. The 14-year-old suspect, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, confessed to killing Sida Osman by hitting him twice in the head with a bowling ball while the two boys were in the fenced back yard of a vacant house in the 4800 block of Lois Street. Osman’s body was found June 26, more than 18 hours after [...]

Lawyers withdraw motion to bar public from teen suspect’s trial2013-10-25T17:00:35-05:00

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