Sports betting is not legal in Texas. Despite recent efforts by the state legislature to legalize sports betting with House Bill 1942, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick refused to allow the bill to be considered by the state’s Senate. Patrick is vocally anti-gambling, and his stance has effectively ended hope for legalized sports betting until the …
Texas
Texas Self-Defense Laws: Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground
Your home is your castle, and Texas law grants you the right to protect it (and yourself). But how far are you allowed to go to protect yourself? Sometimes, use of deadly force is justified, while sometimes homeowners have a duty to retreat. It can seem confusing. Here’s what you need to know to protect …
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Can You Shoot Someone for Trespassing in Texas?
You can’t shoot someone simply for trespassing in Texas, but you can take other actions to defend your property. Many of our clients are gun owners, and they often believe that they have the right to use those guns to protect themselves under any circumstance. However, the legal right to own and carry a gun …
What is a PSI in Court?
In Texas courts, PSI is shorthand for a Presentence Investigation Report. Texas judges use this document to assess punishment for a felony crime. The federal court system uses a similar report known as a Presentence Report (PSR). Both PSIs and PSRs are at least partially based on interviews with defendants and details of the defendant’s …
What is Aggravated Sexual Assault in Texas?
Aggravated sexual assault involves a sexual assault with at least one aggravating factor that increases the offense’s severity.
Capital Murder vs. First-Degree Murder in Texas
Capital murder is the most serious offense you can commit in Texas. It means committing a premeditated murder but with aggravating factors that elevate the charge to a “capital” felony. In Texas, capital murder is a death penalty offense, while first-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Capital Murder vs. First-Degree Murder …
Domestic Assault / Family Violence in Texas: Charges & Consequences
Family violence is defined by Chapter 71.004 of the Texas Family Code as acts by one member of a family or household against another member of that same family or household with the intent of bodily injury, physical harm, or sexual assault. No harm needs to occur; reasonable fear that physical harm is imminent is …
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Is Plan B Legal in Texas?
Plan B and other emergency contraceptives, including a separate medication called “Ella” that helps prevent pregnancy within 72 hours after having unprotected sex, are legal in Texas. These contraceptives are not the same as “medicated abortion pills.” This is where the confusion arises about which medications are legal. Texas’s strict abortion laws do not affect …
Objection Hearsay Meaning + More Common Courtroom Objections
If you’ve ever watched a legal drama on television, you’ve heard someone shout “Objection, Your Honor! Hearsay!” at a critical dramatic moment. In simple terms, that usually means a witness cites information they’ve heard from someone else. An objection is a protest raised by an attorney during a legal proceeding. It alerts the judge that …
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What is Nunc Pro Tunc? How to Fix a Clerical Mistake in a Court Order
Nunc pro tunc orders allow the courts to fix clerical errors and reduce delays in the judicial process. They issue a decision that applies retroactively as if the decision had been made at an earlier date. Nunc pro tunc is a Latin term that means “now for then.” The orders are procedural tools that correct …
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