Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee
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Harris County Upholds Support for Families: Court Sustains Uplift Harris Program
In a landmark decision, the 165th District Court stood with Harris County, denying the motion by the Texas Attorney General's Office to halt the county's pioneering Uplift Harris initiative. This guaranteed income project is designed to empower Harris County families, offering financial stability in challenging times.
Harris County Attorney Menefee Opens Applications for 2024 Summer Legal Academy
The Office of Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee is now accepting applications for the 2024 Summer Legal Academy (SLA), a unique two-week educational readiness program for high school students to learn more about what it takes to become an attorney. The office typically receives more than 200 applications for the 35 available spots and encourages students to apply early.
Harris County Attorney Menefee Announces Settlement against Cigarette Companies in Vaping Case
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee announced a settlement of the county’s lawsuit against Altria Group, Inc., Philip Morris USA, Inc., and related companies over their role in deceptively marketing Juul e-cigarette products to minors.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Files Legal Brief Supporting Abortion Access
Harris County has joined a nationwide fight for emergency access to abortion care, signing on to an amicus brief siding with the United States Justice Department in United States v. Idaho, currently pending before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Supports EPA’s “Good Neighbor Plan” in Amicus Brief Filing
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee together with a coalition of states, filed an amicus brief in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Good Neighbor Plan.” The EPA’s “Good Neighbor Plan” is a rule that expands on an existing multistate framework for limiting interstate ozone pollution under the Clean Air Act. This plan includes requirements for twenty-three states to reduce their smog-forming emissions that travel into fourteen downwind states.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Announces Consumer Fraud Investigation into Patriot Title
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee announced today that the County Attorney’s Office is starting the process to sue a local title company that has repeatedly defrauded community members in real estate transactions. County Attorney Menefee was joined by Commissioner Lesley Briones and victims of Patriot Title's scams.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Volkswagen Settlement
Harris County has announced an $85 million settlement with Volkswagen over violations of environmental laws. The money will be divided between the State of Texas and other political subdivisions, all of whom sued Volkswagen under Texas’s Clean Air Act. A substantial share of the settlement money will be going to Harris County, who led the litigation and was the first to file suit.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Texas Legislature’s Initial Approval of Voting Restrictions
The Texas House of Representatives is in the final stages of passing Senate Bill 1750, which would abolish the Elections Administrator office in only Harris County, and Senate Bill 1933, which would allow for Secretary of State oversight of elections in only Harris County. These bills – which have already been voted out of the Texas Senate – are expected to receive their final vote approval in the Texas House tomorrow.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Bill To Overturn Harris County Election Results
The Texas Legislature advanced Senate Bill 1993, which would allow the Secretary of State to order a redo of elections in Harris County. If passed, this law would apply to only Harris County, home to more than 4.7 million people.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Responds to Texas Comptroller
Earlier today Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar issued a statement erroneously claiming that “Judge Hidalgo and county officials” have sought an opportunity to resolve his determination that Harris County defunded the Precinct 5 Constable’s Office.
Harris County Attorney Announces Legal Action Against Landfill Expansion
Harris County will challenge a permit that would expand a controversial landfill located in the Carverdale community in northwest Houston, a historically black community that has largely opposed the expansion. The landfill – known as the Hawthorn Park Recycling & Disposal Facility, operated by USA Waste of Texas Landfills, Inc. – holds construction and demolition waste.
Harris County Attorney Menefee Opens Applications for 2nd High School Summer Legal Academy
The office of Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee is now accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Legal Academy (SLA), a two-week educational readiness program for high school students to learn more about what it takes to become an attorney. The inaugural program launched in the summer of 2022, yielding more than 250 applications. The 2022 class of 21 students came from 21 different high schools in six local school districts (including HISD, Alief ISD, Klein ISD, and more).
Harris County Attorney Menefee Files Student Debt Relief Brief in US Supreme Court
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee led Harris County in joining 40 other local governments in 23 states to file an amicus brief in Biden v. Nebraska, the case challenging the United States Department of Education’s plan to provide student debt relief of up to $20,000 per student borrower. Harris County and the other governments have sided with the Biden administration and student loan forgiveness advocates, asking the Supreme Court of the United States to undo a lower court’s order halting the administration’s plan for student loan cancellation.
Harris County Adopts New Construction Worker Safety Policy
Today, a new policy introduced by Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee to improve the safety of workers on Harris County construction projects was unanimously adopted by Commissioners Court.
UPDATED: Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee and Labor Advocates to Announce Contractor Safety Policy
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee will be joined by Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Lesley Briones and members of the Build Houston Better coalition to announce a new policy that will make Harris County construction sites safer. The policy will be on the agenda for the first Commissioners Court meeting of 2023.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Election Contest Announcement
This is a shameful attempt by a group of losing candidates who couldn’t win the hearts and minds of Harris County voters and are now throwing nonsensical legal theories at the wall to see what sticks.
Department of Justice to Send Election Observers to Harris County
Today the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will be sending federal election observers to Harris County on Election Day. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee had been in ongoing communication with DOJ officials, who reached this decision just a couple of weeks after County Attorney Menefee, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner sent a joint letter requesting DOJ intervention in response to Texas state officials’ statement they would send election inspectors and an Attorney General task force to Harris County to perform “random” checks on election materials.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Win in 10% Bail Bond Rule Case
A Harris County judge denied a bail bond company’s request to block the 10% minimum premium rule passed by the Harris County Bail Bond Board earlier this year. This marks the second court to uphold the rule’s legality. The hearing was argued by Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee and First Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne.
Harris County Attorney – Christian Menefee Announces EPA Investigation Into TCEQ Concrete Plant Permitting
A Big Step In Protecting The Citizens Of Harris County
This week, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will investigate the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ)’s concrete batch permitting criteria and processes under federal civil rights laws. The EPA initiated the investigation in response to complaints submitted by the Harris County Attorney’s Office and Lone Star Legal Aid under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Harris County Attorney and City of Houston Take Action Against Union Pacific
Harris County Attorney Christian D Menefee and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will each submit Notices of Intent to Sue pursuant to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to Union Pacific Railroad (“UP”) in connection with long-standing contamination in Houston’s Fifth Ward from UP’s Houston Wood Preserving Works creosote treatment facility. The Texas Department of State Health Services found significant increases in cancer rates around the UP rail yard.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Texas Abortion Ban Ruling
Late Friday night, the Texas Supreme Court temporarily set aside part of a Harris County court order that blocked the enforcement of Texas abortion bans that predate Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court’s order now allows Attorney General Ken Paxton to enforce those pre-Roe laws while the court hears the case.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on SCOTUS Overturning Roe
Today, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Statement on Fifth Circuit SB1 Ruling
Today, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated an injunction that prohibited Attorney General Ken Paxton from enforcing SB1’s anti-solicitation provision against the Harris County Elections Administrator.
Harris County Attorney Christian D Menefee Statement on Uvalde Shooting
Below is a statement from Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee regarding the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Responds to Election Day Lawsuit
Today the Harris County Republican Party and its chair filed an emergency lawsuit in the Texas Supreme Court asking the Court to block the Harris County Election Administrator’s plan to drop off ballots and election information at the central counting station after the polls close tonight.
Harris County Attorney Introduces Regulations for Resale of Catalytic Converters
At today’s Commissioners Court meeting Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee will present an update to the Harris County metal recycling regulations to address the reselling of stolen catalytic converters.
Menefee Urges EPA Action On Ozone Measures
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee advocated for residents and voiced concerns about Texas's noncompliance with ozone standards at a virtual public hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), a press release states.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Urges EPA Action on Ozone Measures
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee advocated for residents and voiced concerns about Texas's noncompliance with ozone standards at a virtual public hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
