The US Third Court of Appeals [official website] on Friday dismissed [opinion, PDF] one of two criminal charges filed against former Texas governor Rick Perry last year.The court stated that the coercion of a public servant [Texas Penal Code Chapter 36] charge Perry had faced infringed upon his constitutional right to freedom of speech and that the state had relied upon a definition of coercion that conflicted with that of the former governor’s attorney. The court however did not throw out an abuse of power [Texas Penal Code Chapter 39] charge against Perry.

In January, a Texas state judge refused to dismiss [JURIST report] criminal charges against Perry. A Travis county grand jury indicted [JURIST report] Perry on two felony charges for abuse of power in August. Perry pleaded [JURIST report] not guilty to the charges. Perry was also a controversial figure while in office. In July 2013 he signed into law [JURIST report] House Bill 2 [text], which enacted three new restrictions on the practice of abortion. Also in 2013 Perry vetoed [JURIST report] a bill [HB 950 text] intended to prevent payment discrimination and make it easier for women to obtain equal pay.