Last mentioned: Mar 23, 2026
Supreme Court Denial
The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Villarreal's appeal, ending the legal challenge.
5th Circuit En Banc Ruling
The full appeals court grants qualified immunity to the officers in a 9-7 decision.
Civil Lawsuit Filed
Villarreal files a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Laredo and individual officers.
Charges Dismissed
A state judge dismisses the criminal charges, ruling the statute was unconstitutionally vague.
Villarreal Arrested
Laredo police arrest Villarreal for seeking non-public information.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of Priscilla Villarreal, a Texas journalist arrested for seeking non-public information from police. The decision leaves intact a lower court ruling that granted qualified immunity to the arresting officers, raising significant concerns regarding First Amendment protections for investigative reporting.