This year, March Madness is about college basketball AND the primary election. We each have a ballot and bracket to fill out. Will the people vote for (pick) the Cinderella stories or the incumbents (No. 1 seeds) with huge war chests? Who will emerge victorious? Will we see any huge upsets? The first round aka Election Day tips off next week. Do not forget to fill out your ballot—and bracket!
Elections
Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. Please see our website for all the prosecutors who are running this cycle. We will update the site next week after the election.
Interim Charges
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued his first round of interim charges for Texas Senate committees to study in preparation for the upcoming 90th Legislature. Preventing Sharia Law in Texas is the only charge so far that crosses into the prosecution world. The Lt. Governor wants the Senate to examine entities such as the proposed East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC City) development in Hunt and Collin Counties and any associated entities to determine if they are violating state or federal law. We expect more charges to be released later in the interim.
Office of Court Administration (OCA) and SB 9
OCA sent out an email to all county attorneys concerning SB 9. The email said that there are two changes to statutory provisions that are applicable to county prosecutors and may warrant additional attention.
First, if your office enters into an agreement, either written or oral, with a defendant to participate in a Pretrial Intervention Program for the purposes of later dismissing the charge, the applicable program conditions and statutes must be reported to DPS in accordance with this provision. Additional information, guidance, and training requirements are available on OCA’s prosecutor specific webpage.
Second, OCA will provide prosecutors, upon request, with view-only access to the Public Safety Report System (PSRS) to allow prosecutors to search for defendants, review their bail forms, and review bail decisions and conditions. If you or other prosecutors in your office would like to request access to the PSRS, you may do so online at OCA Prosecutor Request for PSRS Access.
Email OCA at bail@txcourts.gov if you have questions. We are also here to help if you have any suggestions or questions.
Upcoming trainings
Registration is now open for two great TDCAA training opportunities.
March 20: Domestic Violence 101 in Carrizo Springs: This foundational course empowers prosecutors with the critical skills and proven strategies needed to effectively handle domestic violence cases—from initial review through trial and beyond. Designed for those new to domestic violence prosecution or seeking to strengthen their core competencies, the program offers a practical, experience-based framework for addressing the unique legal and ethical challenges these cases present. This training is offered to prosecutors and their employees free of charge.
April 14–17: Targeting some of the most horrendous crimes committed in Texas, TDCAA’s Prosecuting Adult Sexual Assault & Homicide Conference will deliver tools and resources to see justice done. Attendees will learn to advance their jury selection skills in case-specific training and through a unique, three-hour block devoted to individual voir dire.
Quotes
“Despite constant media inquiries, the campaign will not be speaking on the recent revelations about Sheets’s addictions to sex, alcohol, and pornography, or his illicit affairs while in the ministry, resulting in his untimely dismissal.”
Don Rasmussen, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s campaign manager, “not commenting” on recent admissions by his opponent, Nate Sheets.
“It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator who abused his position of power and wrecked a family. I also now know this is not the only case. He must resign.”
Texas’s 23rd Congressional district Republican candidate, Brandon Hererra, attacking his opponent, Congressman Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez, a married father of six, has been accused of having an affair with his Uvalde district director, who later killed herself by setting herself on fire.
“There is no mitigation measure other than air conditioning that can protect people from death or sickness due to the heat. People living in Texas prisons should not be subjected to conditions we won’t even subject animals to.”
Erica Grossman, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs suing TDCJ over the lack of AC in its prisons. The suit is set for trial in federal court next month.
“Across the nation, corrections agencies are fighting to stop contraband from entering facilities and prevent drug-related incidents, overdoses and homicides. TDCJ is no different. These changes are vital to keeping our staff and the inmate population safe.”
TDCJ Executive Director Bobby Lumpkin explaining the new measures to combat illegal narcotics entering its facilities. Effective April 1, all books mailed to inmates must be softback and in new condition. TDCJ will no longer accept hardback books or books in used condition.