Houston, TX criminal defense attorney Emily William Taylor talks about the trends she sees in the prosecution of murder cases in Texas. She observes that murders, particularly those involving firearms and claims of self-defense, are becoming increasingly politicized. In larger counties and major cities, prosecutors are often determined to pursue the harshest penalties against anyone who asserts self-defense or has used a firearm in what might be justifiable circumstances. She notes that the trend, not only in Texas but nationwide, is for prosecutors to aggressively pursue these types of murder charges—with little sympathy, few dismissals, and minimal support during the grand jury process—leaving it ultimately to a jury to determine whether the defendant’s actions were justified.