DWI Case News
Williamson & Williamson Weblog
The Law Offices of Williamson & Williamson
Information on Texas law, plus local news and events of interest to Tarrant County residents.
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Regarding House Bill No. 169 (Sobriety Checkpoints)
Posted on July 17th, 2009 4 commentsH.B. No. 169 relates to the authority of the Texas Department of Public Safety and certain local law enforcement agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated.
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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Innocence Commission Gets Nod From House Committee
Posted on April 27th, 2009 5 commentsRep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, rounded up all of the members of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee to join him on the dais to cast their votes on House Bill 498, by Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, which creates an Innocence Commission to investigate each of Texas’ growing number of wrongful convictions. With all 11 cats herded into the room, the measure passed out of committee on a vote of 8-3, with the usual suspects — including Reps. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and Wayne Christian, R-Center — voting against the measure.* Still, said McClendon, Gov. Rick Perry has promised he’ll sign the measure into law — if it makes it to his desk.
Members of the family of Timothy Cole, who died in prison after serving 13 years for a 1985 rape in Lubbock that DNA has proven he did not commit, also gathered for the vote. The measure, which has been proposed several sessions in a row, tasks an Innocence Commission with identifying the causes of wrongful convictions and how to prevent them — as it stands, Texas has the dubious honor of leading the country in convicting the innocent. To date, 38 men have been exonerated in Texas after spending a total of more than 400 years in prison. Cole was formally exonerated after a February hearing in the Travis Co. District Court of Judge Charlie Baird. It was the state’s first posthumous exoneration.After the votes were cast, Christian turned up his mic to let the Cole family know that the votes against the measure, including his own, had nothing to do with the feelings of lawmakers about the fate of their son. Certainly the situation Cole’s family has found itself in is “horrible, and we totally support you,” he said. There was “no excuse” for what happened to Timothy Cole, he added, and the family should know that “our opposition don’t have nothing to do with our respect for your situation,” he concluded.Thanks. Thanks a lot. Amazingly, Riddle, not known for holding her tongue, did so this time. For that, perhaps, there is thanks.
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration. And, McClendon said, during a meeting with the Cole family and Gov. Rick Perry this morning, Perry promised the family that when/if the bill makes it to his desk, he will sign it.
(You can read the original version of HB 498 here. The Committee passed a substitute bill that tweaks the composition of the Commission. The substance, however, remains the same.)
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Free Legal Seminar
Posted on March 9th, 2009 5 commentsOn Saturday, March 28, 2009, the Tarrant County Bar Association is offering a free day-long seminar for North Texas residents who’d like to learn more about common legal issues. The event will take place at the downtown Fort Worth campus of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Registration begins at 8:00 am, with orientation beginning at 8:30.
The seminar will comprise three individual sessions. During each session, you’ll attend one of five different classes according to the following schedule:
Session 1: 8:50 – 9:50
- Wills and Probate
- Elder Law: Social Security and Guardianship
- Family Law: Children’s Issues
- Energy Law
- Your Day at JP Court
Session 2: 10:00-11:00
- Wills and Probate
- Elder Law: General issues
- Family Law: Grandparents’ Rights
- I Got a Traffic Citation. Now what?
- Real Estate: Sales, Warranties, and Liens
Session 3: 11:10-12:00
- Consumer Protection
- Unpaid IRS Tax Liabilities: What are your Options?
- Family Law: Property issues
- Identity Theft
- Bankruptcy
Pre-registration is recommended. Click here to be taken to the registration form.
Although the course is free, the Tarrant Area Food Bank will be accepting donations.
This community project is co-sponsored by the Bar Association, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, and NBC5. For more information, visit the Tarrant County Bar Association’s website.