Travis Judges Loosen Misdemeanor Bond Requirements

Judges issue "Standing Order" to expand use of personal bonds

"...On Thursday, the seven judges of the Travis County misdemeanor criminal courts issued a “Standing Order” to officially expand..."

Feb. 7, 2020 News Post by Michael King

Buehler's Civil Case Dismissed, for Now

Cop watch activist plans to appeal

"...during which police accountability activist Antonio Buehler had two misdemeanor charges dismissed by municipal courts – became even more..."

Feb. 23, 2015 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

Lawmakers Talk Pot

House Criminal Jurisprudence will consider drug-law reform bills tomorrow

"...in a state jail facility) to a Class A misdemeanor possession of up to one gram of the drugs..."

April 7, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Defense Attorneys Tell County Judges to Close Jail Reduction Docket

Demand letter threatens legal action over plea docket

"...Travis County Court-at-Law judges seeking an end to the misdemeanor court system’s Jail Reduction Docket, and are threatening legal..."

Feb. 12, 2018 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

Grand Jury Indicts Buehler: UPDATE

Misdemeanors only for defying 'lawful orders'

"...indicted Peaceful Streets Project founder Antonio Buehler on several misdemeanor counts of disobeying lawful orders –- but they declined..."

April 4, 2013 News Post by Michael King

Former APD Officer Coleman Martin’s Charges Dropped

Cop who faked his own death accepts probation, won't face misdemeanor charges

"...before later being found near Dallas and arrested on misdemeanor charges of causing a false alarm – a class..."

Oct. 20, 2017 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Antonio Buehler Promises Memorable Trial

Peaceful Streets founder defends first misdemeanor charges Thursday

"...“one of the most interesting and fun class C misdemeanor trials” you’ll see. Tomorrow morning downtown at Austin Municipal..."

Oct. 22, 2014 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

Festival Rap Sheet

APD reports Tyler the Creator ‘riot’ bust, and crash aftermath

"...on a charge of “riot” – a Class A misdemeanor. Along with the arrest affidavit, APD released a brief..."

March 16, 2014 News Post by Michael King

Finance Fireworks Flare For Leffingwell, McCracken (Updated)

Leffingwell says McCracken grossly exceeds out-of-town contributions; McCracken's crew shoots back

"...municipal elections, council made finance violations "a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500," and..."

May 3, 2009 News Post by Wells Dunbar

Another Drug War Casualty: Young Mother Shot While Holding Infant Son

Ohio prosecutors charged police Sgt. Joseph Chavalia with two misdemeanor crimes related to the January shooting death of 26-year-old Tarika Wilson in botched SWAT raid

"...Lima, Ohio, charged police Sgt. Joseph Chavalia with two misdemeanor crimes related to the January shooting death of 26-year-old..."

March 28, 2008 News Post by Jordan Smith

Actual Innocence

Austinite wrongfully convicted for a decade-old school prank hopes to clear his name

"...time for a felony he or she didn't commit. Misdemeanor convictions greatly outnumber felonies and also carry serious consequences..."

July 29, 2011 News Feature by Caitlin Meredith

Ronnie Earle: Prosecutions of Elected Officials

"...Honts (Dem): official misconduct and bribery. Pled to a misdemeanor, misapplying county property, in 1984. Ordered to pay a..."

April 11, 2008 News Feature

Double Jeopardy

A long-ago marijuana conviction gets a library staffer fired and raises questions about city employment policies and the war on drugs

"...pled no contest (nolo contendere) in 1995 to a misdemeanor marijuana charge, and the city disqualified him from his..."

Nov. 29, 2002 News Feature by Lauri Apple

Endorsements

State Constitutional Election, Sept. 13, 2003

"...Proposition 7: Permit a six-person jury in a district-court misdemeanor trial. Most misdemeanor trials are heard before a six-person..."

Sept. 12, 2003 News Feature

Full Ballot Language With Extended Endorsements

"...to permit a six-person jury in a district court misdemeanor trial."..."

Sept. 12, 2003 News Feature

Full Ballot Language With Extended Endorsements

"...to permit a six-person jury in a district court misdemeanor trial."..."

Sept. 5, 2003 News Feature

Endorsements

State Constitutional Election, Sept. 13, 2003

"...Proposition 7: Permit a six-person jury in a district-court misdemeanor trial. Most misdemeanor trials are heard before a six-person..."

Aug. 29, 2003 News Feature

Full Ballot Language With Extended Endorsements

State Constitutional Election, Sept. 13, 2003

"...to permit a six-person jury in a district court misdemeanor trial."..."

Aug. 29, 2003 News Feature

As Sunday Protest Looms, 80 Arrested Protesters Still Face Charges

More thorough arrest affidavits mean no immediate dismissal

"...have been charged with criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by up to 180 days in..."

May 3, 2024 News Post by Austin Sanders

Will New Policy Reduce the Burden of Cash Bail?

In principle, the order authorizes those accused of most nonviolent offenses to be released on personal bonds

"...last week the seven judges of the Travis County misdemeanor criminal courts issued a "Standing Order" to officially expand..."

Feb. 14, 2020 News Feature by Michael King

Local Lawyers and Activists Come to the Aid of Protesters

A look at life after the arrests

"...just begun. Once a person is arrested for a misdemeanor, it usually takes the county attorney's office at least..."

Oct. 9, 2020 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana Effectively Decriminalized in Travis County

Texas decriminalizes “hemp,” chaos ensues

"...such, the Travis County Attorney's Office will now reject misdemeanor posses­sion of marijuana charges filed from June 10 forward,..."

July 12, 2019 News Feature by Kevin Curtin

How to Jail the Poor

Travis County tries to fix its Driving While License Invalid issue

"...the county courts. File them all as class C misdemeanors, and put offenders through municipal court, where they'll get..."

Sept. 21, 2018 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Buehler Acquitted

"Peaceful Streets" founder wins another legal battle

"...being "literally a three-ring circus." Generally speaking, Class C misdemeanor trials don't require four days of proceedings. This one,..."

Oct. 31, 2014 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Changing Directions

Community-based programs aim to redirect the 'school-to-prison pipeline'

"..."Some people think that a school ticket or misdemeanor is not serious, but any criminal record has a..."

June 6, 2014 News Feature by Dagny Zenovia

Justice for All?

New report says misdemeanor court system has serious problems

"...report that details problems nationwide with the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes -- the "explosive growth" of misdemeanor cases has..."

May 4, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Travis County Jail Population Continues to Drop

COVID-19 accelerates the trend, despite Abbott’s pushback

"...to public safety. In February and March, the county’s misdemeanor and felony criminal judges, respectively, issued standing orders with..."

April 7, 2020 News Post by Michael King

Commissioners Ponder D.A. / C.A. Merger

Court punts Lege agenda decision to Dec. 11 [UPDATE]

"...creating a “Criminal District Attorney” office responsible for both misdemeanor and felony prosecutions (and including a civil division). Some..."

Dec. 10, 2018 News Post by Michael King

The Common Law

Halloween mischief – is pumpkin smashing or toilet papering legal?

"...punishable as either a class A, B, or C misdemeanor, depending on the monetary loss inflicted by the damage...."

Oct. 12, 2018 Column by Luke Ellis

HB 2 Protesters Return to Court

Prosecutors juggle charges – A, B, C – without resolution

"...of charges – including criminal trespass (a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and..."

April 22, 2014 News Post by Jordan Smith

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