Criminal Justice

President Joe Biden has granted 39 pardons and nearly 1,500 commutations for prisoners, including former Lubbock businessman Benny Judah. Houston Public Media’s Gail Delaughter looks at how Texas Christmas tree growers keep supplies strong despite a drought over the summer. Between this weekend and the new year, AAA projects 9.1 million people in Texas will travel more than 50 miles from home.

Texas lawmakers are again attempting to get death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify about his conviction. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports Roberson was blocked from testifying in person the first time he was called. The City of Lubbock is accepting applications for several boards and committees through December 31. The term for the positions will begin June 1, 2025. Applications can be submitted at www.mylubbock.us/cityboards.

Texas prohibits people with assault convictions, among other felonies, from becoming social workers. A new lawsuit says the ban is unconstitutional.

The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence summoned Roberson to testify about his case, which successfully stayed his October execution with help from the Texas Supreme Court. But the high court says the House overstepped it's authority.

The four U.S. Attorneys from Texas gathered with the Texas Council on Family Violence to discuss domestic violence prevention — something they say transcends politics.

Lousiana's Ten Commandments mandate for public schools was struck down by a federal district court, this week. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says that’s not likely to stop Texas lawmakers from taking up their own version. Lubbock has one of the highest rates of aggravated domestic violence in U.S. cities with a population over 250,000. A program by U.S. attorneys from the state focused on prosecuting domestic abusers may be at risk once president-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The Texas Supreme Court is considering whether a legislative subpoena of a death row inmate infringed on the executive branch’s power to carry out the execution.

Texas’ junk science statute has remained hamstrung for the last decade. So too have other criminal justice reforms, despite efforts from the Texas House.

The statement from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton "corrects falsehoods" from critics who say death row inmate Robert Roberson was unjustifiably convicted in the death of his toddler child.

Texas lawmakers are weighing whether the law was properly applied in convicting death row inmate Robert Roberson, whose execution was blocked last week. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s annual Pollinator BioBlitz continues through October 27, celebrating the fall migration of monarch butterflies and bringing awareness to all that pollinators do for Texas.