Press Releases

ACLU of Texas, Partners Sue Travis County Over Denying Right to Legal Counsel

AUSTIN, Texas — A class action lawsuit on behalf of people jailed without lawyers in Travis County was filed in federal court Wednesday night to affirm the constitutional right to counsel at first appearance.

ACLU of Texas Court Watching Data Raises Concerns About Travis County First Appearance Hearings Where People Lack Counsel

AUSTIN, Texas — The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the ACLU published today an analysis of Travis County first appearance hearings in criminal court. The report shows numerous issues with Travis County’s practice of making people face a judge without legal counsel at their first appeara