# Crime in Texas, Trial in Texas, Confession to Clergy in North Carolina: Which Law Applies?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/crime-in-texas-trial-in-texas-confession-to-clergy-in-north-carolina-which-law-applies/
- Published: 2026-11-04T13:01:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T11:10:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/volokh/2026/11/04/crime-in-texas-trial-in-texas-confession-to-clergy-in-north-carolina-which-law-applies/
- Topics: Americas, Politics, World

## Key points

- A Texas court applied North Carolina law to a confession made during a call there.
- The state’s clergy privilege may not cover statements made with a third party present.
- A dissenting judge questioned whether Texas rules allow another state’s law to apply.

## Summary

A Texas appeals court ruled that North Carolina law governs whether a man’s statement to a bishop can be used at his Texas murder trial, because the call took place in North Carolina. The decision matters because Texas and North Carolina differ on when clergy communications are protected, and it raises a wider question about which state’s rules apply in disputes that cross state lines.

The defendant was charged with murdering his girlfriend in Harris County, Texas, then travelled to his mother’s home in North Carolina. During a call with a bishop, with his mother allegedly still present, he reportedly admitted killing her; North Carolina’s privilege does not appear to cover disclosures made in front of a third party, while Texas allows an exception when that person is there to support the communication. A Texas precedent applied the “most significant relationship” test and generally favoured the law where the communication occurred; Judge Kevin Yeary dissented from the refusal to review the case, arguing Texas evidence rules contain no basis for applying another state’s law.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.