Texas Law News

Elon Musk speaking to journalists Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg at a conference in 2016.

NPR

People are trying to claim real videos are deepfakes. The courts are not amused

Dean Bobby Chesney's 2018 paper "Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security" is referenced in an article discussing the effect that deepfakes could have on court proceedings.

More of: Robert M Chesney

A photograph of an apartment complex in San Antonio.

San Antonio Express-News

End of the line? Legislature takes aim at tax breaks widely used to create affordable housing

Clinical Professor Heather Way comments on the rapidly expanding use of the Public Facilities Corporations (PFC) program in Texas in an article discussing legislative efforts to reform the program.

More of: Heather K Way

The Ten Commandments Monument on the Texas State Capitol grounds in Austin.

The Texas Tribune

Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening

Clinical Professor Steven Collis provides insight into the 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case and how it could affect recent efforts to decrease church-state separation in Texas.

More of: Steven T Collis

A photograph of Harris County residents voting in the 2020 election.

NBC News

Texas Senate passes bill to allow Secretary of State to overturn Harris County elections

Adjunct Professor Mimi Marziani expresses concern that a bill allowing the Secretary of State to overturn Harris County elections would lead to an undemocratic exploitation of power.

More of: Mimi Marziani

The death chamber at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville.

US News

GOP Contenders Warm to Death Penalty as Crime Surges on the Campaign Trail

Professor Lee Kovarsky weighs in on debates surrounding the death penalty, noting that it has become more of a tool for politics than criminal justice.

More of: Lee Kovarsky

A photograph of the sky above the Texas Capitol.

Austin American-Statesman

Texas bill promoting Ten Commandments in public classrooms poses complex legal questions

Clinical Professor Steven Collis explains religion law precedents and the complexity of legal arguments surrounding the SB 1515 bill, which would require all classrooms in Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments.

More of: Steven T Collis

A protestor holds up a sign that reads "Climate First."

Bloomberg Law

Cities File Exploitative Climate Suits. Courts Need to Stop Them

Adjunct Professor John Hays authors an opinion piece calling for cities and climate activists to stop filing nuisance lawsuits against the energy industry to gain funding for their policy goals.

More of: John R Hays Jr.

The Times-Gazette

Synthetic media and deep fakes

Dean Bobby Chesney's 2018 article "Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security" is quoted in an article about the need to prioritize policies that combat harmful deep fakes.

More of: Robert M Chesney

A photograph of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Washington Post

How DeSantis accidentally handed Disney a potent weapon against him

Professor Lee Kovarsky weighs in on Disney's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and predicts that discovery will demonstrate that DeSantis' actions were viewpoint motivated.

More of: Lee Kovarsky

A photograph of Stephanie Champion and James A. Armstrong, leaders of nonprofit Builders of Hope.

The Dallas Morning News

Builders of Hope is fighting displacement of longtime residents in West Dallas

Clinical Professor Heather Way discusses the legal tool kit she co-produced, which is designed to protect historic Black places and is being used by nonprofit Builders of Hope to fight displacement in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood.

More of: Heather K Way

Faculty in the News