Texas Supreme Court

E-filing court system goes statewide; public access still to be addressed

FOIFT2015-09-30T14:43:22-05:00

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Sept. 30, 2015 Saving an estimated 30 million pieces of paper a year, every major civil court in Texas has begun requiring lawyers and litigants to file documents electronically, providing 24-hour access to the courthouse for anybody with a computer and an Internet connection. The electronic filing system is now available in all 254 Texas counties, and the milestone — reached nine months ahead of schedule — will be celebrated Wednesday at the Texas Supreme Court, which mandated the change in 2012. “It’s been a major, detailed project. You don’t just wave a wand [...]

E-filing court system goes statewide; public access still to be addressedFOIFT2015-09-30T14:43:22-05:00

Texas Supreme Court ruling shields contract details

FOIFT2015-09-25T14:09:47-05:00

By Aman Batheja The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 25, 2015 Over the objections of Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in June making it easier for private companies to keep secret details of their contracts with the state of Texas and local governments, a move that public information advocates warn is ripe for abuse. In a 7-1 opinion, the justices ordered Paxton's office to block the release of some information contained in a lease between Boeing and the Port Authority of San Antonio because the aerospace manufacturer said making the details public could prove [...]

Texas Supreme Court ruling shields contract detailsFOIFT2015-09-25T14:09:47-05:00

Some Texas records now closed in wake of state Supreme Court ruling

FOIFT2015-07-30T16:56:46-05:00

By Steve Miller Texas Watchdog Originally published July 30, 2015 An economic development group in Fort Bend County is no longer subject to the state’s open records law in the wake of a game-changing state Supreme Court ruling in June. The Texas Attorney General Office’s open records division has ruled the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council is not a public body, reversing a ruling it made in March regarding the same group before the high court edict. The new AG ruling concludes that under the provisions of the Supreme Court decision, the Fort Bend council is not subject to open records because it has [...]

Some Texas records now closed in wake of state Supreme Court rulingFOIFT2015-07-30T16:56:46-05:00

Texas Supreme Court limits reach of open government law with GHP ruling

FOIFT2015-06-26T21:31:44-05:00

By Mark Collette Houston Chronicle Originally published June 26, 2015 In a 6-3 opinion with profound reach on the state's open government laws, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday decided that Greater Houston Partnership doesn't have to open its check registers, even though it receives funds from the city of Houston. The case stemmed from a 2007 request by Jim Jenkins of Montgomery County, who wanted to see how GHP spends the city's money. GHP, the region's major economic development group, argued that it wasn't a governmental body for the purposes of the Texas Public Information Act, and eventually sued to [...]

Texas Supreme Court limits reach of open government law with GHP rulingFOIFT2015-06-26T21:31:44-05:00

Legislators consider bill allowing for reporting on wrongdoing allegations

FOIFT2015-04-21T20:33:42-05:00

Legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, that would allow continued accurate news reporting on wrongdoing allegations went before the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee on Tuesday. News organizations, trial lawyers and other groups have agreed on updates to House Bill 1766. The bill clarifies a recent Texas Supreme Court decision and codifies what has been common law for more than two decades. First Amendment attorney Laura Prather, a board member of the FOI Foundation of Texas, explained that under the proposed legislation reporters could continue reporting on allegations involving matters of public interest such as the 21CT contracting scandal; [...]

Legislators consider bill allowing for reporting on wrongdoing allegationsFOIFT2015-04-21T20:33:42-05:00

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