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  October 2, 2017 – Today we released the application for the Spring 2018 class of the Texas Legislative Internship Program – TLIP. I was inspired to create TLIP in 1990 because my mentor, the late Congressman Mickey Leland, stressed the importance of using one’s individual success to provide opportunities for others. What began as …

Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) Applications Read More »

By: Mihir Zaveri © Houston Chronicle • June 25, 2017 When former state Senator Rodney Ellis launched his campaign to succeed the late El Franco Lee as Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner last year, he said he would shake up Harris County government. He’s kept his promise. Not even three months into his tenure, Ellis …

As promised, Ellis making waves as county commissioner Read More »

By: Gabrielle Banks © Houston Chronicle • Apr. 28, 2017 A federal judge in Houston Friday issued a scathing denouncement of Harris County’s cash bail system, saying it is fundamentally unfair to detain indigent people arrested for low-level offenses simply because they can’t afford to pay bail. In a 193-page ruling released Friday, Chief U.S. …

Harris Co. bail system unfair to poor, low-level defendants Read More »

By: Mihir Zaveri © Houston Chronicle • Apr. 2, 2017 Harris County commissioners have put one of the final pieces in place for the county’s Senior Justice Assessment Center, a multi-agency initiative to address the abuse and neglect of the region’s growing elderly population. Approval of a memorandum of understanding among law enforcement, health care …

New Harris County initiative to tackle elderly abuse, neglect Read More »

By: Mihir Zaveri and Gabrielle Banks © Houston Chronicle • Mar. 28, 2017 Tensions flared at Harris County Commissioners Court Tuesday after new Commissioner Rodney Ellis filed legal papers supporting civil rights groups in their high-profile federal lawsuit against the county and its bail system. In a rare public argument before dozens of onlookers at …

Commissioners exchange words over bail bond lawsuit Read More »

By: Gabrielle Banks © Houston Chronicle • Mar. 23, 2017 The call by two civil rights groups for an immediate fix to Harris County’s bail system is now in the hands of a federal judge after high-stakes arguments over whether poor people should remain in jail on misdemeanor offenses because they can’t afford to post …

Judge weighs temporary halt to money bail system Read More »

By: Mihir Zaveri © Houston Chronicle • Mar. 14, 2017 Harris County commissioners on Tuesday approved a pilot program to make public defenders available at bail hearings, a step aimed at retooling a criminal justice system that has increasingly drawn criticism for jailing thousands of poor, low-risk offenders. Within months, county officials anticipate that two …

Harris County to place public defenders at bail hearings Read More »

By: Brian Rogers © Houston Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2017 The Harris County district attorney’s plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana drew reactions swift and strong Thursday from both sides of the debate. District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announced Thursday backed by a bevy of local officials, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston …

Reaction on plan to decriminalize low-level marijuana charges Read More »

By: Jonathan Silver © The Texas Tribune • Jan. 8, 2017 HOUSTON — Sixteen years ago, when then-state Sen. Rodney Ellis heard about a man who was accused of raping a University of Houston student and was later cleared of the crime through DNA testing, the lawmaker wanted a meeting. Anthony Robinson was 26 years old in …

Rodney Ellis leaves Texas Senate with criminal justice legacy Read More »