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Are All Texas Marriages After 2005 Illegal?

Wick Allison — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:28:24 +0000

This is a good one. Lawyer Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the Democrat running for Atty General, took a close look at recent constitutional amendments, including the anti-gay marriage amendment passed five years ago and — whoops!

Here’s the wording:

“This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.”

So anything approximating marriage in this state is not recognized as of 2005? I love lawyers.

Judge Carlos Cortez Writes Nasty Notes

Wick Allison — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:51:10 +0000

About other judges. Of course, the really sad thing is that what he writes is probably true.

Does the Health-Care Bill Undo Texas Tort Reform?

Wick Allison — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:15:13 +0000

David Frum thinks so, citing Section 2531(4)b of the bill. This is one of many provisions that cannot be allowed to make it through the Senate. That brings us to an interesting point: what’s the best strategy for eliminating it?

The Republicans seem to be intent on stonewalling, as they did in the House. The danger is that the Democrats only need to peel off one or two votes to get their 60 supermajority. If that happens, all we can do is hope that tort reform is a bargaining chip. But with so many giant flaws in the House version to be fixed, the senator peeling off (hello, Olympia Snowe) could — and does — have other priorities. But what if 5 or so Republicans said, we’ll vote for your bill if you change these 10, 15, or 20 things — and they were serious, not just posturing (as Republicans tend to do).

They’d get what they wanted. Section 2541(4)b would be history.

Rookie Dallas Police Officer Makes Up an Offense, Charges Awesomely Named Lady With It, Ctd.

Zac Crain — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:01:26 +0000

UPDATE: It’s an epidemic.

Rookie Dallas Police Officer Makes Up An Offense, Charges Awesomely Named Lady With It

Zac Crain — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:08:08 +0000

The charge: being a non-English speaking driver.

The lady: 48-year-old Ernestina Mondragon.

University Park Treehouse Gets the Shaft

Krista Nightengale — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:08:03 +0000

In July, the good people at Overheard brought our attention to the story of the UP family with a treehouse in their front yard. Apparently, a neighbor complained about said structure because its placement is against UP ordinance.

Last night, the Johnson family got the verdict: the house must come down.

More Media Love For Craig Watkins

Jason Heid — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:20:47 +0000

The Dallas County district attorney is named one of 27 “Brave Thinkers” in the November issue of The Atlantic. The whole list is here.

Bomb Suspect’s Brother Ordered Into Federal Custody

Zac Crain — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:16:57 +0000

Hussein Smadi, 18, is now in federal custody as a material witness in the case against his brother, Hosam. His deportation to Jordan has also, obviously, been stayed. He might have had a chance had he not been so insistent on rocking that bandanna/white sunglasses combo.

Texas Senators Want Sarah Saldana as U.S. Attorney

Wick Allison — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:10:13 +0000

As an assistant U.S. Attorney, she played a major role in the prosecution of Don Hill, et al. After a bipartisan commission studied the possible candidates, senators John Cornyn and Kay Hutchison selected her from the list (by tradition, senators approve U.S. attorneys for their states). But there’s a hitch. Oddly, it’s from Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin, who seems to think that if there’s a Democratic White House, Democrats like him ought to have the prerogative of making recommendations, not the state’s two senators, who happen to be Republicans. What makes that odd is that Saldana is a Democrat, and, judging by the verdict in the Hill case, an able and effective one at that. I’ve known Doggett since he was at UT, and this is the kind of game he loves. Fortunately for Saldana, I can also report that, like Tim with golf, as much as Doggett loves the game, he is not often very good at it.

(I tried to get the inside scoop on this dogfight from a really, really, really good source, but he wisely has neglected to return my phone calls — as I would ,too, if my wife’s appointmet was the bone over which the dogs were fighting.)

Leading Off (9/8/09)

Eric Celeste — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:51:27 +0000

1. Dallas County DA Craig Watkins will face a Republican challenger in his re-election effort. Dallas lawyer Phillip Linder has retained Allyn Media to run his campaign against the controversial Watkins, who says Linder is just the next challenge in a series of them he has faced. A preview of a Democrat whipping Republicans can be seen at tonight’s Allyn Media fantasy football draft, where I am scheduled to begin a season-long domination of those poor fools.

2. Parents of weak-minded children will see Leader Obama assimilate their offspring today in a national hypnomindpower event. Resistance is futile. Bwaaahaahaahaaahaahaahaahaaaaa!

3. Three Dallas law firms are planning to sue energy companies associated with the Barnett Shale over leasing agreements. Without reading the story, I can tell you the reasons are as follows: a) said energy companies are swimming in Barnett Shale cash, and b) lawyers gotta sue sumthin.