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

Texas Appeals Court Upholds Rulings Blocking State from Investigating Trans Youth and Their Families

AUSTIN, Texas — Today the Texas Court of Appeals upheld two injunctions against the Texas DFPS and former Commissioner Jaime Masters, barring them from implementing the agency’s rule expanding the definition of child abuse to presumptively treat the provision of gender-affirming care as child abuse.

Texas Second Court of Appeals Reverses Crystal Mason’s Conviction in Major Voting Rights Victory

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Texas Second Court of Appeals reversed Crystal Mason’s conviction, resulting in an acquittal. She had faced five years in prison for submitting a provisional ballot in 2016 that was never counted as a vote.

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Blocks Texas' Extreme Anti-Immigrant Law From Going Into Effect

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today denied Texas’ request to allow Senate Bill 4 (88-4) to go into effect while the court considers its legality. The ruling is a win for immigrants’ rights and will prevent the law from being enforced until the court rules whether the law is unconstitutional.

Court Grants Temporary Injunction Against Texas Attorney General’s Latest Attack on Texas Families with Transgender Youth

AUSTIN, Texas – Today, the Travis County District Court granted a temporary injunction blocking the Texas Attorney General’s Office’s from demanding that PFLAG National turn over information and documents about its support of Texans seeking gender-affirming medical care for their transgender youth.

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Texas' Anti-Immigrant Law to Go into Effect

The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled to leave in place an appeals court administrative stay on a preliminary injunction blocking Texas Senate Bill 4 (88-4), an extreme anti-immigrant law.

U.S. Supreme Court Extends Pause on Texas' Anti-Immigrant Legislation that Would Overstep Federal Law

AUSTIN, Texas – The U.S. Supreme Court today extended its stay of Texas Senate Bill 4 (88-4), an extreme anti-immigrant law. The ruling prevents the law from going into effect until March 18 at 4 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. EDT.

Civil Rights Groups Urge U.S. Supreme Court to Block Extreme Anti-Immigrant Law S.B. 4 in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Civil rights groups today filed an application to the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate an administrative stay from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.