letter from harris county attorney

That widening, which requires the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses adjacent to the freeway, has drawn scorn and accusations that highway officials are perpetuating decades of carving freeways through low-income and minority communities to the detriment of those neighborhoods. 10-DAY DEMAND LETTER PROCEDURES The District Attorney requires that you write a letter to the person in possession of your vehicle. Bennett 0 1,022 0 14,527 See here and here for some background; the story also references the lawsuit filed by Harris County that has been temporarily paused to allow the discussion that led to this agreement. The same way that the Secretary of State is deputizing these people in his office to speak on behalf of the Secretary of State on statutory matters, to perform his statutory duties, the elections administrator is deputizing individuals to carry out duties and responsibilities and functions that are otherwise prescribed to be discharged by the elections administrator, Birnberg said. The restriction applies to any program intended to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters, including general mailings and door to door canvasses, according to the Justice Department. Siegel said that is precisely why the GOP is suing. Sylvester Turner, Mayor Mayor Sylvester Turner serves as the Executive Officer of the City. [Paxtons office wants] to throw a monkey wrench into the operations of vote counting, especially if they think they might lose, and Paxton is in a close race as far as I can tell, said Linda Eads, a professor at Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law and a former deputy attorney general for litigation for the state of Texas. Public servants have moved on. In a statement, Air Alliance Houston said the agreements will do very little to protect Houston communities from the harms posed by this project, specifically related to air pollution caused by the larger freeway in many neighborhoods around the central business district. There is no reason for them to bluff. Federal prosecutors sometimes resemble sharks, because they are frequently unwilling to abandon even fruitless investigations unless they draw some blood. Thats the subject of the following email I got in my inbox yesterday, and I cant do any better than that for a post title. Here @JudgeGenesis Draper. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that as long as things are still being worked out theres still room to get assurances and confirmations about the things that Metro has agreed to. 2023-00952; Nile Copeland v. Judge Latosha Lewis Payne. And, yet, thats not the way its breaking.. The Texas Transportation Commission kept I-45 in its funding plans a few months ago, and some design work was allowed to continue, but now theres another federal complaint filed against the project by various opponents. He urged the county to proceed with the lawsuit, rather than relent. During a Wednesday hearing before the court, the foremost issue that appeared to concern the justices was whether they should provide an advisory opinion to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals at all. Not satisfied with the new voting restrictions put in place less than a year ago, the Texas Republican Party is plowing ahead with yet new measures that would reduce the number of early voting days and end the practice of allowing any senior to vote by mail without an excuse. Although the scope of Rodriguezs preliminary injunction is limited, the judge dealt the first legal blow to new elections restrictions and voting changes Republican lawmakers enacted last year. Im proud of this outcome settling our lawsuit against JUUL. You could have voted early! I for one dont see any difference between the two. The letters stem from the investigation into the 2019 drug raid of a small home on Harding Street in south Houston. Addressing changes sought by the Harris County Flood Control District that improve drainage for neighborhoods north and south of the Loop 610 interchange with I-45. A cadet class will be at risk.. Liens, Real As the Harris County Attorney, Christian D. Menefee is the chief civil lawyer for the largest county in Texas. The maximum that a judge can receive from a PAC is $5000, so that is the goal for each judge and for Lina. The concrete plants are subject to permits that aim to limit pollution in the form of particulate matter and crystalline silica which have been linked to respiratory diseases and cancer but independent testing of concrete facilities by the complaints authors indicate that pollution levels exceed health-based limits. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and loss they are experiencing. Divorce, Separation The motion filed today requests a preliminary injunction against the S.B. Sylvia Trevino, Constable Precinct 6 It is the May 7 election, and widespread problems that day, that prompted the concerns in the first place. See here for the background and here for the courts order. This was separate from all of those, which I confirmed with the County Attorney Office. Weve seen this show before Comptroller Hegar misconstruing the law and playing political games to make headlines, Menefee tweeted. Tuesday, as part of a public hearing on the states long-range plans, opponents opted for leave it, telling the Texas Department of Transportation to drop the 1-45 widening off its list. Following a testy three-hour hearing earlier in the day, Federal District Judge Xavier Rodriguez temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the rule against Harris Countys election administrator until the rest of a lawsuit plays out. Morales-Doyle supported that approach, noting that every criminal solicitation statute that he is aware of applies only to solicitation of criminal conduct. This is a preliminary injunction, and whether it survives the Fifth Circuit or not there will be a trial on the merits later this year, and you can bank on it going all the way to SCOTUS. Neighborhoods with batch plants lack deed restrictions and zoning to protect them, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said. There are apparently 2,100 provisional Election Day ballots in question, out of 2,555 total E-Day provisionals and 2,420 that included a vote in this race. . Rodriguez previewed his order throughout a Friday morning hearing during which he repeatedly pressed the states attorneys with increasing exasperation to fill in what he cataloged as ambiguities in the new law. Sometimes if you sign up for trustee (work while in jail) they give you and extra days credit. Sale, Contract 2023-00841; Tami Pierce v. Judge DaSean Jones. Houston, Texas Today, several losing Republican candidates filed election contests to void the more than 1 million votes cast in Harris Countys November 2022 election. Reporter Edward McKinley and plaintiffs attorney Sean Morales-Doyle have good Twitter threads with more details, so go check them out. Harris County Attorney - Off the Kuff & Resolutions, Corporate You can help Democrats being sued by election losers, these cases are stinking piles of nothing and the losers pursuing them damn well know it, Here we go again with the defunding baloney, January 2023 campaign finance reports: Harris County, agreed path forward for rebuilding Interstate 45, Metros plans for bus rapid transit into its overall design, Agreement reached on I-45 expansion plans, Federal Highway Administration placed on the project in March 2021, postponing action on the countys lawsuit, Judge assigned to hear election loser contest, ruled that the abortion bounty hunter law SB8 violated the state constitution, And now we have a judicial loser contesting the election, The Republicans did warn us theyd be sore losers, ridiculous election contest filed in HD135, SCOTx allows provisional votes to be counted, Paxton sues to prevent some provisional votes from being counted, report released by the Elections Office on the 18th, At least one local voter purge effort has been thwarted, attempted to get Sunnyside residents to sign forms, Paxton issues deranged opinion on access to ballots, EPA to investigate TCEQ over concrete plant permits, If the only choices are take it or leave it, well, state officials offered regarding amending plans, argue highway officials should focus more on improving transit, The continued Republican threat to voting, reduced early voting hours in places like Harris County, Harris County GOP drops its lawsuit over election night vote dropoffs, break with the countys ballot delivery plan, wary to hand over ballots to emissaries so they can ferry to a central location, the county did not complete its count until Sunday morning, I didnt have a problem with the May 7 reporting, SCOTx ponders the questions the Fifth Circuit asked it about SB1, Seems like theres not that much in dispute, New bail bond rules survive initial court challenge, Fifth Circuit asks SCOTx for help on some SB1 issues, Of course the Fifth Circuit put a hold on the SB1 injunction, the Fifth Circuit giving Republicans everything they ask for, Injunction granted in lawsuit over criminal penalties for election officials who encourage voting by mail, Rob Icsezen and Dana DeBeauvoir would like to have a word with you, Ken Paxton cannot be trusted to prosecute anyone, indict Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, sending out the howler monkeys against the Court of Criminal Appeals, Preliminary injunction sought against mail ballot restrictions, Biden administrations Justice Department, wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, letter sent by seven Houston-area Congressman urging Buttigieg to not impede the project, arent likely to be happy with half a loaf, Harris County sues Abbott and issues a mask mandate, mask mandate case involving El Paso County, Superintendant House speaks about the looming TEA takeover. We want a project that does not displace, and we know that wide freeways do not relieve traffic, the group said. Forms, Independent By contrast, under Texas law, it isnota crime for a public official or election official todiscourageeligible voters to vote by mail, saidLiz Ryan,partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Judges are being sued in their individual capacity. That is why each person named in a suit has to retain their own attorney. 55th District Court Judge Latosha Payne ruled Aug. 9 against atemporary injunctionstemmed from civil litigation lodged in April against the Harris County Bail Bond Board that attempted to prevent the premium policy from taking effect. The petition was filed Monday afternoon. Metro is probably as eager as anyone to get this going, as their MetroNext plans depend on various items in the I-45 rebuild. Longoria is employed by Harris County, and Morgan is a volunteer registrar. City of Houston and Harris County Statements on EPA Order for Union Pacific Contamination Cleanup, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Responds to Texas Comptroller, Harris County Attorney Announces Legal Action Against Landfill Expansion. Im going to guess hed run as a Democrat, but I cant say for sure at this time. Were evaluating the lawsuit and will let the courts sort it out.. Briones 819,495 331,782 0 667,234 an LLC, Incorporate Otherwise you could be arrested with no notification. Fortunately, we know how to handle these types in fact, many of our clients have been shocked to learn that their investigations have been closed with zero civil or criminal liability. Commissioners Court convened the special meeting to decide on a response to Hegars claim. Erin Lunceford is represented by Andy Taylor. Skepticism remains high among project opponents that TxDOT can be a willing participant. I dont know if the drafters of this opinion have a firm grasp on how ballot security and ballot processing is done at the county level, he said. services, For Small According to the petition filed Monday night,Wayne Dolcefino, a media consultant and former TV journalist,submitted multiple requests for public information on behalf of the Gallery Furniture owner, who was a major donor supporting Republican candidates including County Judge LinaHidalgos opponent Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Notes, Premarital If it was just mismanagement, it was just gross incompetence, wouldnt one think that the lack of paper would apply equally and uniformly across the map, so that there would be roughly an equivalent number of Democratic stronghold precinct neighborhoods as well as Republican precinct stronghold neighborhoods? Taylor said. And now you know what I know. Instead, the court did not issue an opinion and election night ballot countingproceeded uneventfullyat NRG Arena. Somebody has to be in the kitchen, or else were all on the menu, he said during a Dec. 8 panel discussion with federal highway officials and local opponents. Public Information Requests - Houston I dont care how long it takes some dude to drive into town from The Woodlands. The lawsuit was brought by Harris County election administrator Isabel Longoria and Cathy Morgan, a volunteer deputy registrar who is appointed to help register voters in Travis and Williamson counties. Meeting Request Use this link to request a meeting with the County Attorney. The right to free speech and the right to vote are vital to democracy, and S.B. 6(lost to Judge Kelley Andrews), Matthew Dexter, former candidate forHarris County Criminal Court at Law No. That link takes you here, and while the in-person fundraiser mentioned there is now over, the Donate link remains. Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday voted to sueTexas Comptroller GlennHegars office in response to hiscomments accusing the countyof defunding law enforcement. But hey, lawsuits are time- and resource-intensive, and they often end in settlements anyway, so why not give this a try. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Republicans did warn us theyd be sore losers. The opinion itself provides little guidance as to how long or for what reasons election administrators can block access to such ballots, leaving administrators across the state concerned about their ability to appropriately comply. Niles attorneys order five candidates to stop using village symbols to Leave it doesnt sound so bad given the alternative. County Attorney > Home - Harris County, Texas The criminal division prosecutes criminal cases. The ballots in question were cast during a one-hour period on Nov. 8. 12(lost to Judge Genesis Draper), Brian Staley, former candidate forHarris County Civil County Court at Law No. Those challenges do not amount to voter suppression, Stein said, but merely suggest that Harris County should operate fewer, better-resourced polling locations. My school is a party school but I'm a commuter student, from a different state in fact. If you are appointed a Power of Attorney, you have a duty to act in the best interest of the person in question, ensuring their financial security and prevent undoing the original agreement.Jul 14, 2017. A week is a lifetime in politics and this can radically change, but if the governor wasnt hurt by what happened with the electric grid and the winter storm in February and for the most part, he seems to have not been hurt by it its probably the same kind of calculations here when it comes to the masking order and mandatory versus voluntary vaccinations, Taylor said. Shell have plenty of time to build that treasury back up; she did a pretty good job of that this cycle, so Id expect to see her total tick up in short order. Its a complicated story. The county's position on his determination that the county defunded the Precinct 5 Constable's Office has not changed. I will of course keep an eye on it. The motion for a preliminary injunction inLongoria v. Paxtonishere. Even in the case of the loser who lost to DaSean Jones by 449 votes, its extremely hard to imagine there could have been enough people who encountered problems and could not vote anywhere else and would have voted for the loser to make a difference. Guide, Incorporation Bandit signs are typically small and placed in large quantities along public spaces as esplanades. Federal and state laws requires ballots be securely stored for 22 months after an election, in part to preserve them for recounts or challenges to election results. Harris County District Attorney - Forms and Downloads for the following: General Affidavit, Check Fraud Complaint, Nonsufficient Funds Letter, Stop Payment Letter, and others. The SOS raised no concerns, legal or otherwise, with the program. I have no interest in prioritizing those needs over anyone elses. Mark Herman, Constable Precinct 4 Reconsidering how the project will incorporate, Mark Montgomery, former candidate forHarris County Criminal Court at Law No. I started writing this post at 8 PM, and as of that time there had been no ruling from SCOTx. I believe thats the first Ive heard of the construction timeline being pushed back to 2027, which is a modest benefit no matter what else happens. Taylor accused Harris County Elections Administrator Cliff Tatum, who took over the office starting in August, of intentionally causing ballot paper shortages in Republican-leaning neighborhoods. Judge Lina Hidalgo is the head of Harris County's governing body. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice or gives rise to a solicitor/client relationship. Both parties had the opportunity to ask questions, review the chain of custody document, and raise issues. On the other hand, I and others who live close to I-45 and will be directly affected by whatever does happen in some way and lets be clear, lots of people will be much more directly affected than I will are under no obligation to like this agreement, no matter how reasonable it may be and no matter how unprecedented it may be for TxDOT to bend as much as they apparently did. Well see what the Court says. This isnt a lawsuit, its an investigation. Burgess 940 14,710 5,207 5,403 Everyone who has closely read the law agrees the ballots are confidential: the Secretary of States Office, counties across the state, and his own office just a month ago. Attorneys for the city and county relied on a dissenting opinion from a judge on the 8th Court of Appeals in a mask mandate case involving El Paso County, Ariens said: that Texas law does not allow the governor to suspend laws giving local governments the ability to respond to public health crises as they see fit. of Sale, Contract of Incorporation, Shareholders Business Packages, Construction A decision by a dissenting [opinion] of the court, while sometimes correct, Ariens said, is not as helpful as a decision from a majority of the court., But getting the temporary restraining order granted in the first place puts San Antonio and Bexar County in a stronger position, he said, as it allowed the city to get a mask mandate in place in public schools and public facilities. However, state law does not prevent the county from providing the records, but rather gives the county discretion to decide. The election has been certified by Commissioners Court, which if nothing else avoids the drama of any further delays. I would retain a lawyer and do not talk to any police officers. This law was created to combat alleged voter fraud that we know does not exist, and instead hinders the ability to properly encourage seniors and voters with disabilities to exercise their right to vote by mail, saidChristian Menefee, the County Attorney for Harris County, Texas. I believe that I was wrongfully terminated, and I am seeking compensation for the damages that I have incurred as a result of my wrongful termination. All public comments received by Aug. 8 will be submitted to the commission, including comments fromTuesdays midday virtual public hearing. If you see it clear to forward me $1000 to cover the locksmith, I will egarly give you 20% of any monies recoverd." [deleted] 8 yr. ago Copyright 2022 Attorney-FAQ.com | version 5.1.20 (commit d0adbc) Laravel v 8.83.26 | (PHP v8.1.16), Home (current) | 2023-00955; James Lombardino v. Judge Audrie Lawton-Evans. The petition is filed in Harris County, but the case will be heard by a judge from outside the county, according to Menefees office. The voted ballots are the core of the election process and the prohibition on disturbing the ballots (except in limited circumstances as permitted by the Election Code) preserves the integrity of the election itself, wrote Adam Bitter, general counsel for the office,in a letter obtained by Votebeatthrough a public records request. So, if you are willing to make a donation to CIA that would be great. Attorney, Terms of I've been notified of misdemeanor charges through the mail (not certified) and served by process. Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff Fortunately, we know how to handle these types in fact, many of our clients have been shocked to learn that their investigations have been closed with zero civil or criminal liability. The Harris County GOP on Fridaydroppedits lawsuit, filed on the day of last months primary runoff election, challenging the countys plan for counting ballots. Id like to see enough of the concerns raised by the plan opponents be addressed in a way that theyre willing to let the project move forward. Shah said the office will work in coordination with the county attorneys office to review and determine the validity of all challenges on a case-by-case basis after the midterm election. Menefee. That doesnt mean Ill agree with every decision they made, but I start out with the belief that they did their best to act in our interest. A-Z, Form Violators are subject to a fine between $300 -$500, can be taken to court, as well as have a warrant issued for their arrest for breaking Chapter 28 of Houston's code of ordinances. That one would be heard in the House by a House committee, if Speaker Phelan for some reason doesnt toss it as a frivolous waste of time. 3 Cause No. Phony Defunding Claims II: Electric Boogaloo. CultureMap has more. The affidavits are linked to efforts by a conservative grass-roots organization called the Texas Election Network, which earlier this year attempted to get Sunnyside residents to sign forms verifying the identities of registered voters living at their addresses. Marilyn Burgess, District Clerk Political science and law experts agree that the local governments mask mandates have an unfavorable path forward, ending with the Texas Supreme Court; all nine justices are Republicans and have shown little appetite for ruling against the governor. There were 2,555 provisional ballots cast on Election Day, of which 2,420 included a vote in the DaSean Jones Tami Pierce race. Up until March, the board primarily approved and renewed bail bondsman licenses. Agreements, Corporate Information / Forms / Letters - Harris County, Texas I did not see any news items related to this, so what you see here is all I know. . The ban on sending unsolicited mail-voting applications was one of many provisions containedinSenate Bill 1, the sweeping GOP voting law that was passed Sept. 1during the Legislatures second special session. Thats what we need to aim for. https://mailchi.mp/3860a20fae8b/we-need-your-help?e=cf7bb2b770&fbclid=IwAR3bf6Pdu4mhPHiTnPDtpzT361sMx5VyDAxSnUXy7qM7EbTLGfZabSUiT4w, Clubs in Action PAC (@CIAHTX) 8:32 PM 27 February 2023. 4. We have had their lives in limbo for a year, Commissioner Laura Ryan said of Houston-area drivers. The EPAs civil rights compliance arm announced the investigation last Wednesday. Opponents of TxDOTs design, finalized in 2019, said they needed to review specifics of the two agreements, but remained opposed to some of the fundamental features included in the plans. A William Wagner, about whom I could find nothing, filed the same for Constable in Precinct 7. Im sure theyll say theyre just a bland nonprofit, but to a voter who does not have a law degree, who does not have a background in law enforcement, you are a lot more likely to believe that this is some kind of quasi-official visit, Slattery said. Handbook, DUI But I have always believed that one way or another this was going to happen, so any improvements or modifications to the original plan have to be considered with that in mind. Greg Abbotts order prohibiting local COVID-19 restrictions. You can reach one of our senior attorneys seven days a week, including weekends. Its not like voters were told they couldnt vote or that they had to go home. . Another type of letter that can be issued from the United States Attorneys Office is a target letter.. In its release, the county elections office said it does request the information being asked on the form used by men and added that voters are not required to sign them. On January 7, 2021, I filed with the Harris County Clerk's Office an affidavit disclosing my . The information contained in this site was valid at the time of posting. Access to quality Texas Attorney Vacation Form templates online with US Legal Forms. Raising this as a First Amendment issue makes sense to me, and maybe it will make sense to the courts as well. On balance, with the improvements I think you have an excellent project that will move forward and move the greater good.. Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses. 5 Cause No. See here for the background. Youre talking about school districts that are following CDC guidelines on masking. To get the example, log in to your account and click Download. The push to further restrict early voting and mail-in ballots is rooted in former President Donald Trumps continued claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him largely because of mail-in balloting. I cant tell if this is just using a round number because exact figures are confusing or if this is the exact figure. I thought the price fixing argument was weak and as such Im not surprised at this outcome. There must be a hearing after notice within ten Attorneys Office, you should contact the former state and federal prosecutors at Oberheiden, P.C. "Hello Freind, My name is John Odagu, County Attorney for your county. The judge said the law likely violates the First Amendment. 2023-01052; Sartaj Bal v. Judge Toria Finch. Judge Jackson is represented by John Raley. Texas should be encouraging election officials to provide voters all the information they need to participate in elections. The county received the second largest settlement for a local government in the nation. In a Nov. 29 letter from FHWA Chief Counsel Andrew Rogers, federal officials said recent discussions represent a good start but set parameters for any design work to proceed.