Austin, TX
Texas Rep. privately asks Appellate Judge for new trial in reported conduct violation
AUSTIN, Texas — One of the state lawmakers instrumental in delaying Robert Roberson’s execution, Jeff Leach, allegedly texted a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge last week asking for a new trial.
The judge declined to consider the message and the court has been found to lack any jurisdiction in the case. Still, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent an email to the Texas Supreme Court Friday, notifying them of the breach of professional conduct.
Representative Jeff Leach sits on the Texas House Committee of Criminal Jurisprudence, which issued the subpoena for Roberson that ended up delaying his execution. In text messages between him and a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, he wrote he wasn’t aware the matter was already pending and apologized.
Defense attorney and former prosecutor Ty Cardenas-Wittenstein says attempts to influence a judge outside the courtroom can have major ramifications.
“That’s literally what our system is based on, is justice and fairness,” Cardenas-Wittenstein said. “You’re going to ruin the case. In a criminal case, anybody getting involved like that could easily cause a mistrial, which means everything is stopped.”
RELATED| State Rep. Jeff Leach asked Texas judge to consider a new Robert Roberson trial
She says this is called ex parte communication when one party tries to communicate with the judge about the case without the other parties present.
“One of those lawyers can’t go and, you know, tell the judge a secret or send a secret letter, or even some sort of a social media post or something like that.” Cardenas-Wittenstein said.
This violation typically involves lawyers, but it doesn’t always have to.
“It can be an investigator. It can be it can be a paralegal,” Cardenas-Wittenstein said. “Anybody that’s on either of the teams, whether they’re directly involved or loosely involved.”
That’s why the Office of the Attorney General says State Representative Jeff Leach violated Texas disciplinary rules of professional conduct when he texted a judge who sits on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals last week, in an attempt to get her to vote favorably in delaying Robert Roberson’s execution and getting him a new trial.
Roberson is on death row for the 2002 murder of his two-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis, but many including Leach believe he wasn’t given a fair trial.
In a letter reporting the violation that was sent to the Texas Supreme Court and attorneys involved in the case, his text messages were revealed. He allegedly wrote in part…
“I’ve wracked my brain about whether I should send you this message about where I can even send you this message legally and ethically… There are too many questions and too many holes and too much uncertainty and Robert Roberson deserves a new trial.”
Leach explained to the judge he wasn’t a party to the trial and the case wasn’t actively pending, but the judge replied the matter was indeed pending and thus ex parte communication she couldn’t consider or discuss.
Leach apologized for the error, but the judge still reported the communication.
“For most lawyers, it’s something that you know is ingrained to us,” Cardenas-Wittenstein said. “But you know, for somebody that didn’t go to law school, I don’t know if that would be something that was ingrained in them.”
On the social media platform X Monday evening, Leach apologized publicly. He says in part:
“Unlike some other leaders in our state, I’m not afraid to admit when I mess up and that’s exactly what I did… I am fiercely committed to the rule of law and to strengthening our system of justice. This is why I’m so passionate about the case of #RobertRoberson — because I believe so strongly the system has failed him.”
Cardenas-Wittenstein says ex-parte communication can sometimes lead to a case being thrown out or a lawyer even losing their license to practice. In this case, though, it doesn’t involve an attorney and the United States Supreme Court has already ruled the Court of Criminal Appeals lacks jurisdiction, sending the case to the Texas Supreme Court where it’s still pending.
CBS Austin reached out to one of Roberson’s attorneys listed in the letter, who declined to comment. We’re also waiting to hear back from the Anderson County District Attorney who was also notified of the violation.
Following controversial comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and recruiting battles with other contending teams, the Texas Longhorns have once again found themselves in the national spotlight ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Just like this time 365 days ago, the Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC Championship by the time the postseason rolls around, as well as be contenders for the national championship — despite failing to gain a playoff berth in 2025.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Texas’ preseason hype centered around quarterback Arch Manning and his first year at the helm of the Longhorns’ offense. Despite predictions that Manning would win the Heisman and be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Longhorns went on to a nine-win regular season with steady, ongoing improvements in Manning’s performance.
Now, the attention from national media seems due to the “all-in” season that the Longhorns are looking toward, with a huge roster turnover through the transfer portal suggesting that this is the make-or-break year for Texas — and Manning — to achieve any national championship hopes.
However, a “make-or-break” season isn’t necessarily what’s ahead for Texas in 2026.
Texas’ Championship Hopes Aren’t Necessarily Over After 2026
It’s fair to assume that the Longhorns are going all in for a national championship in 2026, given the emphasis on experienced transfer portal talent, coaching staff changes and even talk from some players about what the team’s goals are over the offseason.
But considering 2026 as the Longhorns’ last chance for a trophy in the immediate future isn’t as easily justifiable, especially when Texas may not be considering much of a rebuild after this season ends. Sarkisian himself didn’t deny that Manning may come back for another year with Texas in 2027, and many key playmakers on both offense and defense have several more years of eligibility left.
Especially looking at Texas’ incoming class of freshmen and history with the transfer portal, it’s likely that the Longhorns are setting themselves up for longevity more than immediate success. If Manning does decide to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, incoming freshman quarterback Dia Bell will be an exciting prospect for Texas to bank on when looking for its next offensive leader.
It’s natural that the Longhorns should continue to generate national excitement, especially with the newest five-star commit to the 2027 class. Even so, Texas has a habit of bucking the trends and national predictions. The pressure was on in 2025 to win a national championship in Manning’s first year as a starter, and as more mock drafts continue to slate him as a first-rounder, that pressure has only heightened in what most onlookers see as his last year playing college football.
Whether the Longhorns will buckle under that pressure this go-around will be seen, starting with their home opener against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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AUSTIN, Texas — Austin city leaders gathered on East 11th Street on Juneteenth to celebrate the “Black Artists Matter” mural before it must be removed under an order from the Texas Department of Transportation. The mural and the city’s rainbow crosswalk are slated for removal in compliance with a Texas Department of Transportation directive requiring cities to remove political ideologies from roadways. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to enforce the policy.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson stood on the blocked-off street where the yellow letters spelling “Black Artists Matter” are painted on the roadway’s surface. “We will never forget that when the state decided to target our murals, the community stood together to celebrate our city’s diversity, spirit, and creativity,” Watson said.
Watson criticized the state’s actions, saying, “The state government engages in negative rhetoric and threats, it targets communities that it disagrees with and seeks retribution.”
In response to the order, Watson formed the Public Spaces Task Force to identify other ways to celebrate diversity in Austin.
ALSO| Screwworm medications straining animal shelter budgets across Texas
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Daphne McDole, chief executive officer of the African American Cultural Heritage District and a member of the task force, said she wanted the event held on Juneteenth because of its significance. “I wanted to do it on Juneteenth, it was significant to me because I knew that that was the day my community would be in the district. We will be celebrating over here all day, so it was appropriate,” McDole said.
Task force members said they are exploring alternatives to honor East Austin’s history and diversity. They noted that city leaders in San Antonio created rainbow sidewalks after removing rainbow crosswalks, but said Austin will pursue its own approach.
Task force chair Steven Rivas said the community is focused on preserving the meaning behind the markings. “We chose to come together as a community and find a way to respect what these markings mean and build upon them. If we can’t have them in the street, we’re going to put them off the street,” Rivas said.
AUSTIN, Texas — The screwworm outbreak is having a major impact on animal shelter budgets across Texas. Instant kill and preventative medications for dogs and cats are an unprecedented expense.
Paul is a rescue dog from South Texas, where he was living on the streets and starving. He is now at Austin Pets Alive! getting Screwworm prevention medication and the treatment he needs to get healthy.
“Any dog that enters our shelter period, but especially if they look like this, we are going over them with a fine-tooth comb and looking for anything that might be a wound where a screwworm might have been able to gain access,” said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, CEO and President of Austin Pets Alive!
RELATED| FDA authorizes generic over-the-counter drug to treat New World screwworm in pets
Dr. Jefferson says dogs and cats need regular checks of their eyes, noses, ears, and underneath their fur. But Austin Pets Alive! says the best protection is a combination of Capstar, which is an instant-kill medication for existing active screwworm larvae, and prescription preventatives that provide ongoing protection when administered every 30 days.
“Just to buy the initial Capstar for our program, it was close to $10,000,” said Rebecca Giamona, Asst. Medical Care Director at Austin Pets Alive!
Giamona says preventative meds are also putting a heavy financial strain on the nonprofit’s budget at a cost of around $70,000.
“We need about 5,000 doses of the monthly preventative, and they are roughly $14 to $15 per dose,” said Giamona.
Products with the active ingredients ending in l, a, n, e, r are highly effective at preventing and treating infestations. But keeping Paul and every shelter animal up to date will take help from the public.
“Donations, and hopefully some more donations,” said Giamona.
An infestation of New World Screwworm can be painful, disfiguring, and potentially deadly for animals. Most cases involve livestock, especially cattle, but dogs and cats can also get infestations.
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