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The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

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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 Considers Ownership of ‘Produced Water’

Advances in technologies to treat water produced from oil and gas fracking operations has made what was a worthless by-product into a potentially valuable resource. It’s now worth fighting for, as evidenced by arguments in the closely watched case of Cactus Water Services v. Cog Operating.

March 18, 2025 Janet Elliott

New SCOTX Justice Sullivan Once Ran Afoul of the Fifth Circuit for Tone of Rehearing Petition

As an assistant attorney general, James P. Sullivan saw his petition in a habeas case struck for its tone and lack of respect. He says he apologized and learned from the incident. Gov. Abbott in January elevated Sullivan from his general counsel to the Supreme Court. Relatively unknown in the Texas legal community, Sullivan’s judicial application sheds some light on his judicial philosophy. Most of his litigation experience was in federal court, the document shows, with only 20 percent in state appellate courts.

February 12, 2025 Janet Elliott

Blacklock Followed Public Sector Path to Lead Texas Judiciary

Some were surprised by Gov. Greg Abbott’s selection of Jimmy Blacklock as Texas Supreme Court Chief justice, but his eyes were always on big questions about the role of the constitution and development of the law. His leadership is likely to continue the court’s conservative rulings.

January 15, 2025 Janet Elliott

SCOTX: Cities Not Liable for Cop Car Crash Injuries

Rulings in the two latest cases and a third decided in May set up a demanding standard for when police officers can be sued over injuries and deaths caused while pursuing suspects or responding to calls for help. Although the circumstances varied, the court said none of the cases met the emergency exception to governmental immunity. 

December 31, 2024 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Will Review Winter Storm Uri Claims Against Transmission and Distribution Giants

Four years after devastating power outages resulted in death and destruction, justices will hear arguments in February on the utility companies’ mandamus effort to end claims by more than 15,000 plaintiffs. The utilities say they had no duty under the exigent circumstances to supply power to any particular customers for any particular duration.

December 23, 2024 Janet Elliott

Former Colleagues Surprise Hecht at Final Argument

Retiring Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht was greeted by 17 former judicial colleagues and many other well-wishers as he heard his final case. Some of those gathered now sit on federal benches, while others have thriving private practices. All expressed gratitude for his service. (Photo courtesy Supreme Court of Texas)

December 6, 2024 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Considers Foreseeability of Cross-Median Crash

The deadly crash happened in December 2014 on an icy interstate near Odessa when a pickup truck carrying a woman and her three children crossed into the path of an 18-wheeler helmed by a driver trainee. Trucking and business interests decry the $116 million Harris County trial judgment as an outlier among commercial vehicle cases.

December 3, 2024 Janet Elliott

Hecht, Yes! Longest-serving SCOTX Member Had Unparalleled Impact on Business Litigation, Legal Aid

Not since the frontier days when Texas jurisprudence was being developed from Spanish law has there been a Supreme Court justice as influential as Nathan Hecht. While serving on the court for 35 years as a justice and chief justice, Hecht was a leader in the court’s transition from a plaintiffs-oriented body to one that pleased the business community with skepticism about large jury verdicts in tort cases. He played key roles in writing procedural rules that make litigation more efficient and vigorously advocated for civil legal services funding. As the longest-serving judge in Texas history hangs up his judicial robe due to state-mandated retirement, he recalls elections past and decisions that helped shaped the current court.  

November 21, 2024 Janet Elliott

15th COA Hears First Arguments in Cases Involving State Entities

Justices on the newly created court engaged in spirited questioning over appeals involving DPS’ Uvalde school shooting records, the AG’s biometric data case against Google, and the firing of a Crowley ISD teacher who pinned down a student. Lawmakers gave the court broad authority over appeals involving the state and cases from the new business courts.

October 30, 2024 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Scrutinizes Reach of Texas Civil Barratry Law

Allegations that two Texas lawyers should be held liable for solicitations that occurred in Louisiana and Arkansas put a spotlight on the unique Texas civil barratry law. The plaintiffs argue that the financing and directing of the scheme occurred in Texas. The lawyers say the lawsuit cannot overcome the presumption against extraterritoriality.

October 3, 2024 Janet Elliott

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Features

  • P.S. — Texas Legal Advocates Earn State, National Awards; Attorney Group Dedicates Fundraising Year to Homelessness Prevention  - In this week’s P.S. Column, we highlight standout leaders and organizations who their peers are recognizing for making a difference. Texas Appleseed has named Travis Torrence, U.S. Head of Legal at Shell USA, as this year’s J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award recipient. The nonprofit will also honor Alston & Bird with its Pro Bono Leadership Award at its Nov. 4 dinner in Austin. Meanwhile, Attorneys Serving the Community announced Shared Housing Center as its next beneficiary, supporting efforts to prevent homelessness in Dallas. On that national stage, the American Bar Association is honoring the State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Committee with a Solo and Small Firm Project Award. And in Houston, the Hispanic Bar Association welcomed eight new board members. August 8, 2025Krista Torralva & Elle Grinnell
  • My Five Favorite Books: Kelly Turner (Vice President & Senior Legal Director at Goldman Sachs) - After a very long hiatus from reading, I got back to it in 2023. In 2024, I finished 95 books. So far in 2025, I am up to 88 books. I am going to limit this list to books I have finished in the past two years. As you will see, I enjoy a wide range of genres. I hope you find your next great read!

    Editor’s note: The Texas Lawbook is pleased to offer this new column in partnership with Texas-based Half Price Books sharing our readers’ favorite reads.
    August 6, 2025Kelly Turner

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Brandy Treadway Appointed CLO of Academy Sports and Outdoors - Treadway has significant experience in retail, having previously worked at JCPenney for a decade, where she ultimately became senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.
  • Bell Nunnally Bolsters IP Practice with Cheryl Leb
  • Holland & Knight Lands Healthcare Partner from K&S
  • Nachawati Law Group Launches New Practice Group
  • Northern District Civil Prosecutor Joins Vartabedian Hester & Haynes
  • Haynes Boone Welcomes Two-Time SCOTUS Clerk to Appellate Practice Groups
  • Thompson Coburn Adds Dallas Partner to its Real Estate Practice
  • Brink’s Recruits New CLO from 7-Eleven
  • Methodist Health Lawyer Moves to Serenity Healthcare to Be GC
  • IP Heavyweight Jeff Homrig Returns to Weil
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

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Barry Barnett
Wes Bearden
Emily Westridge Black
Michael Burke
Alicia Campbell
John Campbell
Madeleine Carpenter
Alexander Clark
Dawn Pittman Collins
Richard Finneran
Elizabeth Freeman
David Gail
Elizabeth Gibson
David Jones
Frank Lopez
Abbe Lowell
Neal Manne
Billy Marsh
Tom Melsheimer
Tasha Moser
Justin Nelson
Reed O'Connor
Kate Pennartz
John “J.” Pieratt
Danielle Reyes
Christopher Richardson
Randy Sorrels
Harry Susman
Larry Vincent
Victor Vital
Brent Walker
Matt Weybrecht
Melody Wilkinson
Alex Wolens

Firms in the News

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A&O Shearman
Bryan Cave
Cozen O'Connor
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Law Office of Liz Freeman
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
Sorrels Law
Susman Godfrey
Toyota
Troutman Pepper Locke
Willkie
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Winston & Strawn

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