State Bar of Texas

Can You Say "Assassination?"

Dallas mossbacks still think they can silence debate at the JFK anniversary.

Former Mayoral Candidate Jim Moore's Law License Was Suspended For Spending a Client's Money During His Campaign

Jim Moore was, for a time, the frontrunner in the race to succeed Tom Leppert as Dallas mayor, if only because he declared his candidacy long before anyone else. His star shone only briefly, however, as the criminal defense attorney pulled out of the race three months before the actual election and ... More >>

Dallas Police & Fire Pension Sues State to Keep Records on a Development Private

Even as the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System (DPFP) tries to deflect media attention from its shiny, shiny Museum Tower project, Courthouse News reports that it's also fighting to avoid releasing information on a different luxury developer, one that it wholly owns. The pension system filed ... More >>

When Innocent Prisoners Finally Go Free, Their Prosecutors Do, Too

On the trail for justice with Texas' exonerees.

Exoneree Lawyer Exonerated of Professional Misconduct Charges: "We Did It Right."

Lubbock personal injury attorney Kevin Glasheen, who represented a number of Dallas exonerees and successfully lobbied the state legislature to more than triple the amount paid for each year spent wrongfully imprisoned, was found innocent Thursday of professional misconduct charges brought by the St ... More >>

Craig Watkins Explains How He Got So Broke

​On Christmas, The Dallas Morning News gifted Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins with a big fat lump of coal in article form, detailing a lawsuit filed against him by Citibank that alleges he owes more than $15,000 on his credit card plus interest. The article, supplemented this mo ... More >>

Exonerees Settle Lawsuits Over "Unconscionable" Fees Charged by Attorney

Danny FulgencioSteven Phillips​A lawsuit filed by three Dallas exonerees against their high-powered personal injury lawyer has finally come to an end after more than two testy years. The dispute was over fees charged for more than tripling state compensation for the wrongfully imprisoned. A ... More >>

Kevin Glasheen Fought to See Innocent Prisoners Compensated, Then Fought To Take Millions For Himself

The Lubbock lawyer teamed up with Innocent Project lawyer Jeff Blackburn to see the state compensation for exonerees raised. Now both men are under fire from their clients.

Texas' Innocent Prisoners Are Getting Compensated, and Their Lawyers Want in On the Deal

As Lawyers Fight Over Exonerees' Money, the State Says Changes Must Be Made

Kevin Glasheen​Last Friday, in Judge Ken Molberg's courtroom, attorneys representing Steven Phillips and Kevin Glasheen argued over money, which is what attorneys often do when they clash in courtrooms. At stake: around $1 million, which Glasheen says he's owed by Phillips per an agreement they ma ... More >>

Investors Trust Judge Joe Ashmore, But His Trust Doesn't Pay Back

Investors say a former Dallas judge is the face of a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. But investors and investigators are catching on.

Hao Liu, Can You Go? Texas Supreme Court Demands Dallas Man Stop Playing Lawyer.

Harvey Birdman's more of an attorney than Hao Liu.​Hao Liu is not an attorney. He's never been an attorney, nor a member of the State Bar of Texas. He's also not in law school. Never has been to law school. Hard to say what he does -- except, that is, tie up Dallas courts with frivolous lawsuits.U ... More >>

Attorney Claims Dallas County, John Wiley Price Are Keeping Him Out of Bail Bond Biz

​Phillip David Wainscott, who's been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1995, says Dallas County is interfering with his ability to make a living -- and by Dallas County, he really means Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price in his position as a member of the county's Bail Bond Board, ... More >>

Mexican Citizens Seeking Help from the Local Consulate Get Snared in a Legal Grudge Match

Dallas Lawyer Specializes in Animal Welfare and Rights

Plus, if you want to bequeath your savings to Sparky she'll help you set up a pet trust

Sharon Keller is Texas' Judge Dread

When Sharon Keller turned off the clock on a Death Row inmate's last-gasp appeal, she became the most vilified judge in Texas

Ginger Allen Has a New Gig

Don't You Wish Your Mayor Was Hot Like Me

Dallas' mayoral wannabes are all nice guys. Where's the fun in that?

Matt Pulle Still Doesn't Give Jennifer Gale a Chance. That's a Shame.

Wherein We Declare Don Hill the Current Frontrunner and Sam Coats...Wait, This Can't Be Right...Hip?

DMN: Stop Whining, You Innocent People

Sweep Legal? Oh, That's Richie.

Feds and State Tell Dallas: We're Coming. Again.

Who Is That Guy?

He plays golf with George Clooney. He clowns around with Chris Tucker. He's best buddies with Peri Gilpin. He's a pasty white dude named Steve Stodghill.

Busted

It's not just us; two state legislative committees find a culture of corruption at City Hall.

The Lone Ranger

Right, but not quite right, Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher is reforming county government while infuriating her Republican colleagues

Die-In

Harriet Miers' conservative views drew threats of an ugly protest in 1989

Die-In

Harriet Miers' conservative views drew threats of an ugly protest in 1989

The Missing People's Agenda

Plus: The Turkey Test; New Sheriff in Town

Deadbeats

Posh Trinity backers skate on 80 grand they owe to the city

Donald Bags 3 Katies

Staffers make a big splash in recent journalism competitions

Siderius Named Texas Print Journalist of the Year

Numerous Observer writers took home awards in recent competitions

Dogs Gone?

Many Dallas restaurants welcome dogs--at considerable risk

Observer Writers Honored

On Her Case

Attorney Catherine Shelton returns to court to defend her law license

Sects and Lies

Did the isolated, unhappy life of an Arlington family of Jehovah's Witnesses breed false charges of sexual abuse? Absolutely, says a family member who never got a chance to tell her side of the story.

Good Sports

Forget chicken wings. The modern sports bar serves sautéed artichoke hearts--God help us all.

Observer staffers honored

Our assorted crew of writers receive a potpourri of recognition

Impossible dreamer

Fearless reformer or legal terrorist? Bobby Wightman-Cervantes makes a run for the Senate. The Texas Bar says he should have his head examined.

Victims in the shadows

A Rowlett murder shines a light on the practices of notarios who victimize illegal immigrants desperate for a chance to remain in the United States

Murder most embarrassing

One crazy lawyer

Within days of a shotgun attack in Rowlett, tempestuous Dallas lawyer Catherine Shelton found herself in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. It isn't the first time.

Dissed robes

On the prosecution-biased Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, justice isn't blind. It's dumb.

Courting disaster

Texas judges rally to save a bit of patronage

Courthouse bully

Legal assistant Jim Carrao works the dark corners of the justice system. He serves papers, does background checks, files annoying cases--and knows just enough law to be dangerous.

Alive and kicking

Observer wins Bar award

"I'll Fight for You!"

You want Brian Loncar on your side, all right. Ask anyone who's made the mistake of crossing him.

Lambs to the slaughter

Laws to speed executions will make it harder to save Death Row's innocent

Fee fight

For lawyers, beating the city is only the beginning