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.

SCOTX Resumes Oral Arguments — by VTC

When the Texas Supreme Court convened for oral argument Wednesday, it wasn't in the familiar halls of the court, but in virtual space. Honoring COVID-19 stay-at-home directives, the court conducted oral arguments in three cases via teleconferencing, becoming only the second state supreme court in the nation to do so (Ohio apparently beat them by a day). Bottom line: The technology performed smoothly for the most part, appellants got their virtual day in court and some of the justices got to wear their robes at home. Janet Elliott describes the court's first argument in W&T Offshore v. Fredieu

April 9, 2020 Janet Elliott

A Most Unusual SCOTX Case

A seemingly mundane child custody battle between two divorced parents has attracted an extraordinary collection of Texas appellate talent. It has also attracted the amicus attention of the Texas attorney general. Janet Elliott explains.

March 16, 2020 Janet Elliott

An Email is Still Not a Contract — SCOTX

Emails can be useful tools for negotiation, but they aren't definitive until both sides agree they are, wrote Nathan Hecht in Chalker Energy Partners III v. Le Norman Operating. Janet Elliott has details.

March 3, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX: A Tale of Two Lawyers

Two cases decided by the Texas Supreme Court last week involved lawsuits against lawyers. One involved representational immunity, the other criminal defense malpractice. Not all they had to say favored lawyers. Janet Elliott explains.

February 25, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX, Meet The ‘Fuzzy Animal’ Exception

Fort Worth is trying to control the proliferation of game rooms that have "eight-liners"—slot machines that issue coupons for lavish prizes like game systems or other electronics. The operators of those coin-operated amusement machines are fighting back. Janet Elliott explains the issue and how it relates to Chuck E. Cheese.

February 10, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX: Emails ≠ Contract (at least not here)

In some cases, emails can spell out the terms of a contract. But the Texas Supreme Court ruled last week that landowners seeking compensation for a pipeline never constructed couldn't make that case. Janet Elliott explains.

February 3, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Reverses $12M Judgment Against ConocoPhillips

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that a 1987 will handing down ownership of a Zapata County ranch included its mineral interests. Though it took him six charts to do so, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht showed that the mineral interests were distributed to her heirs exactly as Leonor Ramirez intended.

January 28, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Reconsiders Case On Jurisdiction

Having once rejected this case involving an out-of-state insulation company, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments last week reconsidering the threshold of Texas products liability jurisdiction. Janet Elliott reports.

January 17, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Hears Case Against “Anti-Washout” Clauses

The argument before SCOTX is whether two parties can create an interest in real property that remains vested long after the agreement - or even the parties themselves – cease to be. Janet Elliott reports.

January 14, 2020 Janet Elliott

SCOTX: Judge’s Testimony Against Lawyer Was Proper

A bankruptcy judge who brought an ethics complaint against McAllen lawyer Mark Cantu should not have been excluded from testifying in the resulting disciplinary trial, SCOTX has ruled in a per curiam decision. Janet Elliott explains why it was even a question.

October 28, 2019 Janet Elliott