Good morning. Court resumes in the Alex Jones/Sandy hook trial.
After awarding $4.1 million in actual damages to the parents of Jesse Lewis, jurors will be asked next to assess punitive damages meant specifically to punish Jones for repeatedly portraying the tragedy as a hoax. Parents' lawyer Kyle Farrar calls Bernard Pettingill to testify as an economic expert to discuss the net worth of Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems.

BREAKING: We have a verdict in the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial for actual damages. Verdict signed by 10 of 12 jurors.
Total of $4.1 million, far below the requested $150 million.

Alex Jones trial: Jury deliberations underway in Sandy Hook case.
Parents are asking for $150 million in actual damages.
Jones' lawyer countered with $8.
At least 10 of 12 jurors must agree on a verdict.
statesman.com/story/news/loc… via @statesman Fight erupts in morning hearing, without jurors present, over the Jones phone texts that were revealed yesterday in court as having been mistakenly provided by Jones lawyers.
Jan. 6 committee wants them.
Jones lawyer wants them protected from disclosure.

Here for Day 7 of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial to begin at 9 am. Deputy just informed plaintiffs lawyers that the defense and plaintiffs tables will be released separately on breaks.
It seems they do not want a repeat of this: The day bill begin with Alex Jones still on the stand for questions from his lawyer, Andino Reynal, followed by cross examination.
Judge said time should be OK if Jones is off the stand by noon lunch break.
Closing arguments later today, then instructions to jury.

Day 6 of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial opens in downtown Austin.
Today, the parents of Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis, 6, will testify as the last 2 witnesses for plaintiffs at this stage of the trial.
Alex Jones also is scheduled to testify as the only witness for the defense. Before jury comes in, judge warns lawyers: "Today is probably going to be among the more emotional days, potentially heated."
Says if she sees witness giving a performance, or using testimony for other than trial issues, she will shut down down the YouTube feed, remove reporters

The second and final scheduled week of the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial begins in Austin.
The parents and older brother of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the 2012 attack, could take the stand today behind 3 experts and a video deposition.
Jones is not in the courtroom. So Friday's bankruptcy filing by Jones' main company, Free Speech Systems, did not slow action here in state District Court, as expected.
Background:
statesman.com/story/news/loc…

In emergency filing, 2 tech industry groups ask the US Supreme Court to block the 5th Circuit ruling that lets Texas enforce its social media law, arguing the law violates the Constitution, harms platforms and users.
Background:
statesman.com/story/news/202… via @statesman The Texas law "strips private online businesses of their speech rights, forbids them from making constitutionally protected editorial decisions, and forces them to publish and promote objectionable content," said Chris Marchese, lawyer for NetChoice.

BREAKING: Texas Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN a statewide injunction barring child abuse investigations for families that provide gender-affirming care, but AFFIRMS the injunction as it pertains only to the one family that sued. Ruling: "The court of appeals lacked any authority under Rule 29.3 to afford relief to nonparties throughout the state."

In another ruling, Court of Criminal Appeals says conviction for altering, concealing or destroying evidence -- marijuana dropped into a motel toilet containing water and human waste -- is good because the drug was indeed altered. Court of Appeals was wrong to say "altering" evidence requires proof of a change in the chemical composition of the marijuana, CCA says.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals does not rule on central question in Crystal Mason illegal voting case, returns her to the appeals court to answer it -- Did Mason have actual knowledge that it was a crime for her to vote?
Background: statesman.com/story/news/202… via @statesman "The court below erred by failing to require proof that the Appellant had actual knowledge that it was a crime for her to vote while on supervised release. We remand to that court to evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence under the correct interpretation of the statute."

Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, begins her filibuster of SB 1, the GOP voting/elections bill.
Alvarado must speak on issues relevant to SB 1 without sitting or leaning on her desk, leaving the floor for a bathroom break, eating or drinking.
It's 5:47 p.m.
#txlege "The floor is yours," Lt Gov Dan Patrick says, reminding Alvarado that her comments must be germane to SB 1.
If she strays, a point of order can be called. 3 successful challenges would end the filibuster.
#txlege

NOW: Senate Republican makes a motion to suspend rules and bring SB 7 conference report to the floor for a vote.
Sen West asks what time the report was filed?
3:36 pm
Rules generally require a 24-hour delay.
#txlege Sen. @SenBryanHughes says once he gets permission from the GOP majority to suspend 24-hour waiting period, he plans to bring SB 7 to the floor for debate and a vote "no sooner than 10 pm tonight."
#txlege

The remote hearing over AG Paxton's bid for a court order blocking the pandemic-related business curfew in Austin and Travis County is under way before District Judge Amy Clark Meachum. The holiday weekend orders, banning dine-in food and beverage service from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. tonight thru Sunday morning, so Paxton office requests a ruling before 5 p.m. tonight.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, one of the biggest Trump boosters in Texas, says he'll pay up $1 million to encourage and reward those who report voter fraud. If info leads to arrest/ conviction for voter fraud. expect at least $25,000, he says. Perhaps wisely, given the trolling and ridicule that has greeted other GOP 1-800 numbers and reporting sites, Patrick says tipsters should turn over their evidence to local law enforcement.

BREAKING: Texas Supreme Court DENIES petition seeking to toss out almost 127,000 Harris County votes cast in drive-thru lanes.
Denial is without comment. There is still, however, am emergency hearing Monday morning before US District Judge Andrew Hanen on a similar challenge, this time federal, by the same 3 GOP candidates and GOP activist to toss out the votes in the emerging Democratic stronghold of Harris County.

Texas Supreme Court asks Harris County to respond, by 4 p.m. today, to a challenge by GOP candidates/activist/House member that seeks to void tens of thousands of Harris County drive-thru votes.
Background:
statesman.com/news/20201028/… There is no way of knowing how many justices really want this info.
It only takes 1 justice to request a response.
And Justice Devine has previously written a dissent to the dismissal of earlier challenges to Harris County's drive-thru voting sites. Nobody joined the dissent.

In new petition, GOP candidates and state Rep. Toth ask Texas Supreme Court to REJECT Harris County votes cast in drive-thru lanes (100,000+ so far), calling it illegal curbside voting reserved for sick/disabled.
A new argument after earlier bid to end drive-thru voting failed. Hotze is a GOP activist in Houston
Champion is a GOP candidate for Congress.
Hemphill is a GOP candidate for District Court.
Toth is GOP member of Texas House from The Woodlands.

US judge in San Antonio REQUIRES all voters, poll workers, and poll watchers in Texas to wear a mask at voting locations. Judge, a Trump appointee, VOIDS portion of Gov. Abbott’s mask mandate that exempted polling places.
More to come. Judge says exempting those who are “voting, assisting a voter, serving as a poll watcher, or actively administering an election” from compliance with the statewide mask mandate violates the Voting Rights Act "because it creates a discriminatory burden on Black and Latino voters."

BREAKING: Texas Supreme Court UPHOLDS Gov. Abbott's order limiting counties to 1 mail ballot drop-off site, DISSOLVES temporary restraining order that blocked Abbott's Oct. 1 order that closed extra sites. Ruling reverses this appeals court ruling:
statesman.com/news/20201023/…

BREAKING: 5th Circuit Court STAYS trial judge ruling that required improved pandemic response in the state's geriatric prison, including frequent cleaning of common areas, giving COVID-19 information and providing hand sanitizer, masks, tissues and other hard to get items. Appeals court says 2 plaintiff-inmates failed to exhaust their administrative remedies.
In addition, "their constitutional claim fails on the merits. TDCJ’s response, albeit imperfect, did not amount to
deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment."

JUST IN: Prosecutors in AG Paxton criminal case ask judge to approve their $300 rate, noting that is what Paxton agreed to pay "an untested and unqualified rookie" to investigate allegations of federal misconduct in the Nate Paul matter. "If Paxton's choice to pay Cammack $300 an hour appears to be disingenuous, it is only because it is: in successfully derailing this prosecution by spearheading a concerted effort to defund it, Paxton has referred to the Pro Tern's $300 hourly rate as unreasonable, unwarranted."