Defense for Austin officer asks judge to open rare court of inquiry into Travis County prosecutors

March 19, 2026

Defense counsel for Austin Police Officer Chance Bretches filed a request with a Travis County judge asking the court to open a court of inquiry, an uncommon legal mechanism in Texas. They point to state statutes that allow a judge to order an independent inquiry when there are allegations of misconduct by public prosecutors.

The motion names the Travis County district attorney and several of the office's top prosecutors, alleging conduct that the defense says warrants an outside review. The filing asks the court to examine whether prosecutorial actions compromised Bretches's legal rights or the integrity of the case against him.

A court of inquiry operates differently than routine appeals or motions within a criminal case; it can authorize investigations into official conduct beyond the immediate charges. Defense attorneys argue this step is necessary to ensure impartial scrutiny, while a successful petition could prompt investigators or a special prosecutor to examine the district attorney's office practices.

Travis County's use of courts of inquiry has been rare, and judges typically weigh such requests carefully before moving forward. If the judge grants the petition, the process could extend the timeline of proceedings connected to Bretches's case and lead to separate findings about prosecutorial behavior.

The request adds a new legal front to the matters surrounding Officer Bretches, who remains the central figure in the underlying criminal proceedings. The defense frames the court of inquiry as a tool to protect the officer's rights and to bring transparency to how the district attorney's office handled the prosecution.

Court officials have not yet issued a ruling on the request, and the district attorney's office has not publicly responded to the filing. Observers say the outcome could influence both the immediate case and broader questions about oversight of prosecutorial conduct in Travis County.