self-defense on Texas Appeals Journalhttps://texasappeals.org/topics/self-defense/Clinical descriptions of the Texas appellate decisions drawing the most press coverage.Hugo -- gohugo.ioen-usMon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500Supreme Court of the United States Holds Trial Judge Could Bar Lawyers From Managing Defendant’s Ongoing Testimony During Overnight Recesshttps://texasappeals.org/2026/03/villarreal-v-texas/Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500https://texasappeals.org/2026/03/villarreal-v-texas/The Court held that a Texas trial judge did not violate the Sixth Amendment by instructing a testifying defendant’s lawyers, during a 24-hour overnight recess, not to manage his ongoing testimony while permitting all other discussion. Seven Justices formed the majority; Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Gorsuch, concurred in the judgment only.Fifth Circuit Vacates Capital Murder Conviction of Brittany Holberg, Holding State Court Unreasonably Applied Brady to Undisclosed Informant Evidencehttps://texasappeals.org/2025/03/holberg-v-lumpkin-capital-habeas/Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500https://texasappeals.org/2025/03/holberg-v-lumpkin-capital-habeas/A divided panel held that evidence the State did not disclose—that a jailhouse witness was a paid police informant—was favorable and material impeachment evidence under Brady v. Maryland, and that the state court’s contrary ruling was an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court law. Judge Duncan dissented on materiality.