Note: the following letter was sent on Nov. 30, 2011. Sunset Advisory Commission Austin, TX 78701 Dear Members of the Sunset Advisory Commission and Rep. Dennis Bonnen, Chair: I hope you are well. In light of your mandate to review the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the Board of Pardons and Paroles (”Parole Board”), and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee, I am writing to express my deep concern about the abysmal condition of health care within the … [Read more...]

Here is the text of the opening statement for a Dec. 21, 2011 federal court hearing in Austin. Co-counsel Ryan P. Bates of Yetter Coleman, LLP argued that the First Amendment rights of his clients were violated when they were arrested during Occupy Austin activities and banned from the Austin City Hall Plaza. Joining Bates as co-counsels from Yetter Coleman were Ed Dawson--who helped to prepare the opening statement--and Anna Rotman. Good morning, Your Honor, and may it please the … [Read more...]

Dear Colleagues: On July 1, the Texas Supreme Court essentially ended our lawsuit against paperless DRE voting machines. We had survived the trial and appellate courts. Basically, the Court dismissed the case because we could not show any particularized harm, just a policy choice with which we disagreed. Obviously this is circular, but that's where it went. However, the opinion could have been much worse. The court rejected most of the Secretary of State's argument and issued a … [Read more...]

This was to be my talk at the dedication of the new building for the South Texas Civil Rights Project; but, as fate would have it, a raging thunderstorm prevented my plane from landing in Harlingen and forcing us to go to Houston Hobby via San Antonio.--Jim Harrington Thanks to all of you for coming tonight and for the opportunity to be here with you. We are all honored by your presence. Thanks especially to all the staff for their great work in turning a dream into reality. To … [Read more...]

Several Texas Civil Rights Project Promotoras joined forces with organizations, law enforcement, religious leaders, and private citizens to speak out on Texas SB9 on Monday, June 13, 2011 at the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee. Promotoras shared their stories and described how passage of SB9 would hinder the relationship and trust the Latino community and other ethnic populations have with law enforcement throughout the state of Texas. They highlighted the increased … [Read more...]