Kerry Heckman, on Behalf of Themselves and All Other Persons Similarly Situated v. Williamson County

A criminal defendant’s right to counsel — enshrined in both the United States and Texas Constitutions — ranks among the most important and fundamental rights in a free society. The plaintiffs in this civil action assert that they, and other similarly situated indigent criminal defendants, have been deprived of that right. The court of appeals dismissed their suit, concluding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. We disagree. While our Constitution requires vigilance lest courts overstep their jurisdictional bounds, courts also must dutifully exercise jurisdiction rightly theirs. Here, the…