• Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Sign up for email updates
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

  • Appellate
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Deal Tracker
  • GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.
  • Firm Management
  • White-Collar/Regulatory
  • Pro Bono/Public Service/D&I

Janet Elliott

Janet has deep knowledge of Texas government, including the Texas Legislature and Texas Supreme Court. Her policy expertise includes public and higher education funding and policy, civil justice, pension and investment funds, and state budget. Janet's news media career has also included stops at the Houston Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal and Texas Lawyer.

Chief Justice Deflects Criticism of SCOTUS at Texas Appearance

John Roberts spoke with U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal during a public visit to the Baker Institute for Public Policy about the U.S. Supreme Court, its history and current challenges, and why he chose Rice University for a return visit.

March 17, 2026 Janet Elliott

Hot-Button Issues Shaped Kyle Hawkins’ Advocacy

Before he was appointed as a justice on the state’s highest court in October, Kyle Hawkins argued five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and nine at the Texas Supreme Court. His advocacy included cases targeting abortion, the Affordable Care Act and New York’s school vaccination law. Hawkins’ appointment came shortly after he argued a tobacco tax case before the court he now sits on.

February 5, 2026 Janet Elliott

Former SCOTX Chiefs Make Case for Judicial Independence

Nathan Hecht, Wallace B. Jefferson and Thomas Phillips held court in a large tent on Austin’s Congress Avenue last weekend to discuss issues related to the Third Branch of government. They fielded questions about a recent constitutional amendment that gave the governor greater authority over judicial discipline and the rise of claims under the Texas Constitution.

November 18, 2025 Janet Elliott

Legal Aid Work Celebrated at Luncheon with SCOTX

Real world stories related by legal services lawyers highlighted the impact of Texas Access to Justice Foundation funding at this year’s event. Justice Brett Busby presented awards to Greenberg Traurig and the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs.

October 23, 2025 Janet Elliott

Newest SCOTX Justice Tries for Federal Bench

Justice James P. Sullivan has interviewed to become a U.S. District Court Judge in Austin. It would be a fast track for Sullivan, who joined the Texas Supreme Court in January. Federal Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell also is said to be under consideration for the bench once held by Lee Yeakel.

October 20, 2025 Janet Elliott

Justice Boyd Leaves a Legacy of Judicial Restraint

After more than a dozen years on the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Jeff Boyd is leaving his spacious office and balcony where the justices decompressed after sometimes-heated case conferences. The author of 72 majority opinions and 62 dissents is considering how he can educate the public about the need for judicial independence in an era of extreme political polarization. He reflected on his role as the court’s chief dissenter in a recent interview with The Texas Lawbook.

September 6, 2025 Janet Elliott

Trade Secrets Case Offers a Roadmap on Preemption, Jury Charges

The lawyer who represents a dozen former DNOW employees said a recent opinion by the Fourteenth Court of Appeals reversed a significant trial award and reshapes the legal landscape in Texas for trade secret and fiduciary duty claims. The appeal resulted in more than $2 million in attorneys’ fees and costs for the ex-employees, who were accused of conspiring to steal DNOW’s trade secrets.

July 31, 2025 Janet Elliott

Lease Operator Owns ‘Produced Water,’ SCOTX Says

The Texas Supreme Court addressed ownership of “produced water,” an oilfield byproduct made increasingly valuable by new treatment methods. Absent a specific conveyance, the court said in a closely watched case, a surface estate does not retain ownership of the water separated from hydrocarbons during hydraulic fracturing operations.

June 27, 2025 Janet Elliott

No Texas Jurisdiction Over Foreign Airplane Engine Maker, SCOTX Says

The Texas Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit from a woman who was severely injured in a small plane crash in North Texas. The court found that she failed to produce evidence that the Austrian manufacturer of the plane’s engine specifically intended its product to enter the Texas stream of commerce.

June 20, 2025 Janet Elliott

Legislation Aims to Boost Texas as a Friendly Place to Incorporate and Settle Disputes

A new law makes it more difficult for shareholders to challenge corporate decisions through litigation. A second bill headed to the governor’s desk would enhance the fledgling Texas Business Court’s authority, although lawmakers decided for now against expanding the system to rural Texas. (Photo by Ricardo Garza)

June 4, 2025 Janet Elliott

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 14
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Features

  • P.S. — Barnes & Thornburg Foundation Awards $50K Grant to Dallas-Area Nonprofit - In this packed edition of P.S., we highlight the charitable giving of the Barnes & Thornburg Foundation, collectively funded by firm lawyers and staff. Each year, five firm offices are selected to direct grants to charities in their local communities. The Dallas office was chosen this year, and it awarded a $50,000 grant to Project XVI, a Dallas-area nonprofit helping children identified as belonging to at-risk communities. Their work addresses problems that most people would drive by, said Barnes & Thornburg Dallas managing partner Thomas Haskins. Read on for more about what drew the firm to Project XVI. 

    Also in P.S., we report on fundraising efforts to endow a scholarship in memory of the 8-year-old twin daughters of attorneys John and Lacy Lawrence who were lost in last summer’s Hill Country floods. 

    Plus, Dallas was the site of the 47th Annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition, Houston prepares to host Law Rocks and more.
    March 20, 2026Krista Torralva
  • My Five Favorite Books: Allison Cook (Partner at Reese Marketos) - When I started practicing law, reading for pleasure took on another hurdle: I was intellectually intimidated. I assumed all lawyers were reading the likes of Kafka, Proust, and Tolstoy for fun. And after spending my days reading case law and briefs, the last thing I wanted to do was crack open Anna Karenina. So I simply didn’t read anything.

    Now I confidently crack open yet another Frieda McFadden thriller next to my insanely intellectually curious husband, who is reading yet another Dostoevsky book. Ten years ago, that might have made me self-conscious. Now it just makes me laugh.
    March 18, 2026Allison Cook

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Eversheds Sutherland Names Phyllis Young Head of Texas Finance - Eversheds Sutherland named Phyllis Y. Young partner and head of the multinational firm’s Texas finance team within its U.S. Finance Practice Group.
  • Specialty Dallas Real Estate Partners Move to Bracewell
  • Fort Worth Biz Litigation Partner Laterals to Bonds Ellis
  • Alex Wolens Joins Hamilton Wingo
  • Clifford Chance Taps Alexandra Wilde to Lead Houston Office
  • Mayer Brown Lands Six-Partner Litigation Group
  • DLA Piper Adds Corporate, Securities Litigation Partner to Austin Office
  • Dallas Government Enforcement Partner Hired by Bradley
  • Thought Leadership: Miles Mediation & Arbitration Opens New Office in Houston
  • Mitby Pacholder Adds Houston Commercial Litigation Partner
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

Hover right to see full list

Chip Babcock
Chris Bankler
Jamie B. Beaber
David J. Beck
Bill Benitez
Jessica Berkowitz
Brent Bernell
Tyler Bexley
Shawn Blackburn
Michael Blankenship
Jeffrey Brill
Anita Brown
Ian Brown
Stuart Campbell
Jack Chadderdon
Paul Clement
Erin Nealy Cox
Scott Craig
Kevin Crews
Shamus Crosby
Hannah M. Crowe
Geoffrey Culbertson
Sean Cunningham
John Daywalt
Rajiv Dharnidharka
James Ducayet
Brian K. Erickson
Scott Everett
Weiru Fang
Elizabeth Freeman
Tad Freese
Melanie Fry
Geoff Gannaway
Paul Genender
John J. Gilluly III
Rodney Gilstrap
Andrew Gorham
John Greer
Joseph Grinstein
Matthew Haddad
Colleen Haile
Breen Haire
Shahmeer Halepota
Dionne Hamilton
Troy Harder
Rusty Hardin
Michael Hawes
Nathan Hecht
Stephen Hessler
Hillary Holmes
Marc Jaffe
Lauren Jenkins
David Jones
Atma Kabad
Susan Kennedy
David Kinder
Justin King
Allan Kirk
Melanie Koltermann
Doug Kubehl
Joe Laurel
Sang Lee
Steven Lockhart
Arthur Lotz
Barbara Lynn
Mike Lynn
Nora McGuffey
Stephanie McPhail
Mark Melton
Jeri Leigh Miller
Kimberly A. Moore
Mark Moore
Shelby Morgan
Alia Moses
Davis Mosmeyer III
Darren Nicholson
Eamon Nolan
Ivy Nowinski
Holland O’Neil
George Padis
Ian Peck
Jonathan Platt
Chase Proctor
Doug Rayburn
Joel Reese
Kevin Richardson
Andrew Rodheim
Seth Rubinson
Mazin Sbaiti
Ana Sanchez
Vincenzo Santini
Jeffrey Scharfstein
Robert Schroeder III
Scott Seidel
Steven Sexton
Ahmed Sidik
Robert Slovak
Emily Smith
Melissa R. Smith
Jonathon Soler
Robert Soza
Lande Spottswood
Craig Stanfield
Justin Stolte
Josh Teahen
Kelly Tidwell
Linda Tieh
Rafael B. de Toledo
Monica Uddin
Rhett Van Syoc
Rahul Vashi
Gabe Vazquez
Patrick Venter
Sarah Walden
Kandace Walter
Kyle Watson
Mikell Alan West
Noël Wise
Meng Xi

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

AZA
Baker Botts
The Bandas Law Firm
Beck Redden
Boies Schiller Flexner
Bracewell
Bradley Arant
Burns Charest
Clement & Murphy
Condon & Forsyth
DLA Piper
Dykema
Foley & Lardner
Gibson Dunn
Gillam & Smith
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Lynn Pinker
Mayer Brown
MoloLamken
Pamela Welch PLLC
Patton Tidwell Culbertson
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
The Probus Law Firm
Reese Marketos
Rusty Hardin & Associates
Sbaiti & Company
Sidley Austin
Simpson Thacher
Skadden
Squire Patton Boggs
Sullivan & Cromwell
Susman Godfrey
Troutman Pepper Locke
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Willkie
Winston & Strawn

Footer

Who We Are

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Submit a News Tip

Stay Connected

  • Sign up for email updates
  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Premium Subscriber Editorial Calendar

Our Partners

  • The Dallas Morning News
The Texas Lawbook logo

1409 Botham Jean Blvd.
Unit 811
Dallas, TX 75215

214.232.6783

© Copyright 2026 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.