Constitutional

Texas 15th Court of Appeals, Constitutional, Criminal

Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners v. Youniacutt — Automatic License Bar for Violent Felony Convictions Survives Constitutional Challenge

automatic / June 4, 2026

The Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals reversed the trial court and dismissed challenges to Texas Occupations Code § 108.052(2)’s automatic denial of social worker licenses to applicants with prior violent felony convictions, holding that the categorical disqualification survives rational-basis review under Patel because protecting vulnerable patients is a legitimate government interest and the bar is not oppressively burdensome.

U.S. District Court — Southern District of Texas, Breach of Contract, Constitutional, Family Law

Valdes Soria v. Warden — Court orders ICE to release long-detained immigrant, finding 10-month detention without individualized hearing violates due process

automatic / June 8, 2026

Case Edgar Valdes Soria v. Warden, Houston Contract Detention Facility, et al. Court U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas […]

U.S. District Court — Southern District of Texas, Civil Procedure, Constitutional, Family Law

Escalona-Araque v. Mullin — Court orders release of Venezuelan detainee held without bond hearing, finding mandatory detention under § 1225(b)(2) violated Fifth Amendment due process

automatic / June 8, 2026

Case Ronaldo Cruz Escalona-Araque v. Markwayne Mullin, et al. Court U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (Laredo Division) Date […]

Constitutional, Municipal Law, Real Estate

Modern Builders v. City of Fort Worth — Second Court Upholds Municipal Zoning Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals

automatic / May 28, 2026

The Second Court of Appeals upheld Fort Worth's zoning restrictions confining short-term rentals to designated areas, rejecting constitutional challenges from property owners operating STRs in residential districts.

Constitutional, Family Law

In the Interest of K.N. — Texas Supreme Court Applies Heightened Evidentiary Standards to Reverse Father’s Termination

automatic / June 5, 2026

In a companion case to In re H.S., the Texas Supreme Court reversed a father's parental-termination order for insufficient evidence while affirming the mother's termination as to one child, demonstrating rigorous case-by-case evidentiary review.

Constitutional, Family Law

In the Interest of H.S. — Texas Supreme Court Reverses Mother’s Parental Termination, Strengthens Evidentiary Standards

automatic / June 5, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a mother's parental-termination order in a 5-3 decision, holding the evidence was legally insufficient and strengthening evidentiary standards for the 'death penalty of civil cases.'

Constitutional, Family Law

In Re S.H. — Texas Supreme Court Grants Mandamus Protecting Parent’s Choice of Counsel in Termination Case

automatic / June 5, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court granted mandamus relief directing a trial court to withdraw its order removing a parent's chosen attorney from a parental-termination case, holding the court's appointment authority does not extend to excluding qualified counsel.

Banking & Finance, Constitutional, Real Estate

Staub v. BBVA USA — Texas Supreme Court Limits Constitutional Forfeiture Remedy to Breaches of Constitutionally Mandated Loan Terms

automatic / May 29, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court held that the constitutional forfeiture remedy for home equity loan violations applies only to breaches of constitutionally mandated loan conditions, not to every contractual breach by a lender.

Civil Procedure, Constitutional, Municipal Law, Standing

State of Texas v. City of McAllen — Texas Supreme Court Dismisses Telecom Rate Challenge for Naming Wrong Defendant

automatic / June 5, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court dismissed a nine-year challenge by cities to legislatively reduced telecom right-of-way rates, holding the cities sued the wrong defendant by naming only 'the State of Texas' rather than the telecom companies or a specific state agency.

U.S. District Court — Southern District of Texas, Constitutional, Criminal, Family Law

Cobarrubias-Lopez v. Laredo Detention Center — Court orders release of Mexican national held without bond hearing, finding prolonged civil detention violates Fifth Amendment due process

automatic / June 4, 2026

Case Diana Cobarrubias-Lopez v. Laredo Detention Center, et al. Court U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (Laredo Division) Date […]