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.

Justices to Review Landfill’s Property Valuation Dispute

After Texas Disposal System successfully persuaded the Travis Appraisal Review Board to lower the valuation of its landfill by more than 80 percent, the Travis Central Appraisal District sought a district court’s review. TDS successfully argued that the trial court did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the appraisal district’s claim that the property was below market value because it had brought only an unequal-appraisal protest. SCOTX will review a court of appeals decision to allow the appraisal district to proceed with its case. Business taxpayers are weighing in as the dispute presents major questions for the handling of appraisal protests.

January 29, 2024 Janet Elliott

Fifth Circuit Hands Book Stores, Haynes Boone’s Laura Prather Victory in Book Rating Law Case

The decision is a high-profile win for Prather, who represents several bookstores and publishers who challenged the law. The case was Prather’s first appearance before the New Orleans-based appeals court.

The Texas Lawbook profiled Prather, who leads Haynes Boone’s media law practice group, in an in-depth article last week. In the article, Prather discussed the bookstore law case and other First Amendment matters that she is championing.

January 18, 2024 Janet Elliott

Biden Nominees Bring Prosecutorial, Judicial Experience

Nominees for vacancies in the Western District of Texas would be among the first under the current administration. Sens. Cornyn and Cruz are on board with Ernest Gonzalez and Leon Schydlower for courts in Del Rio and El Paso. Former president Trump had a considerably larger impact as he addressed a backlog of vacant benches in Texas.

December 21, 2023 Janet Elliott

Law Schools Could House New Business Courts

Tasked with implementing new laws creating a business court system for complex, expensive litigation, the Texas Supreme Court is gauging whether the state’s law schools might want to provide courtroom space. With 10 new trial courts and an intermediate appellate court coming online next September, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discusses logistics and substantive issues the court is considering during its rulemaking process. Meanwhile, the chief justices for the 14 courts of appeals are identifying cases involving state government for likely transfer to the new Fifteenth COA, which will have exclusive jurisdiction over those cases and appeals from the business courts.

November 28, 2023 Janet Elliott

Regulations Cutting Roofers Out of Insurance Claim Process Challenged

Tensions between free speech and public protection were exposed during SCOTX arguments on licensing requirements for public adjusters. The justices posed hypotheticals about professions including lawyers, doctors and journalists, but the prevailing image was that of a roofer standing atop a house calling the insurance company.

October 27, 2023 Janet Elliott

Meet the Reasoners: Texas Legal Royalty

Harry Reasoner grew up on a farm outside San Marcos, milking cows and raising pigs for 4-H competition. At 80, he has had a storied career, representing corporations in some of the biggest trials in history. Clients pay as much as $1,500 an hour for his counsel. Now Reasoner's two children - Barrett and Macey and the extraordinary courtroom success they've had - are making sure that their father's legacy will continue for many, many years. Meet the Reasoners.

October 16, 2023 Janet Elliott

SCOTX Ponders Order Shutting Down Stinky Poultry Operations

The appeal involves high-powered lawyers and noxious fumes from East Texas industrial chicken farms. It presents important legal questions arising out of recent Texas Supreme Court decisions on temporary nuisances and permanent equitable relief.

October 4, 2023 Janet Elliott

Texas Appellate Experts Preview SCOTX Term

Coming off another cohesive term, the Supreme Court of Texas began its new session hearing arguments this week in a variety of cases. The Texas Lawbook hosted a panel of appellate experts on Tuesday to discuss some of the upcoming cases they are watching and reviewed significant decisions from last term.

September 13, 2023 Janet Elliott

Texas Seeks Stay of Federal Court Ruling Against School Book Ban

The fast-moving case is heading to the Fifth Circuit over the First Amendment implications of a new law requiring booksellers to rate material sold to public school libraries. Would Texan Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet be banned for sexual content?

September 5, 2023 Janet Elliott

Business Court Building Blocks Taking Shape

The hotly contested legislation establishing a new business court and intermediate court of appeals to handle complex commercial cases goes into effect Sept. 1 as litigators wait for judicial appointments and procedural rules. Many expect challenges to the business court’s system of appointed judges and the Fifteenth Court of Appeals’ statewide jurisdiction. Janet Elliott outlines the issues.

August 31, 2023 Janet Elliott