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

Litigation Roundup: Defamation Case Against Houston Boutique Firm Gets Tossed

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, we have details on the outcome of a discrimination lawsuit brought by a Black attorney in Houston who alleges he was kicked out of a bar at the Post Oak Hotel for wearing a “[Mark] Lanier 6.0 Trial Academy Master Class” hat, Whirlpool gets a $25 million trademark infringement win in the Eastern District of Texas, and the Texas Supreme Court passes on hearing a case involving the Judicial Branch Certification Commission’s regulation of licensed court reporters. 

February 4, 2025 Michelle Casady

Transocean Injury Plaintiffs Ask Justices to Remove AZA as Defense Counsel

Plaintiffs firm Arnold & Itkin has appealed a Harris County trial judge’s decision that allowed the law firm Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing to stay on as defense counsel to Transocean in multidistrict litigation stemming from offshore workers’ injuries, arguing the ruling was “in error” and “an abuse of discretion.” 

February 3, 2025 Michelle Casady

Dallas Boutique Nabs Former Appeals Court Justice Amanda Reichek

Former Fifth District Court of Appeals justice Amanda Reichek has joined Dallas law firm Tillotson Johnson Patton as a partner after losing her re-election bid in November. Reichek, who previously worked in plaintiff-side employment law and union-side labor law, expressed excitement about returning to a small firm setting and joining a "top-notch" legal team. The firm’s name partner, Jeff Tillotson, praised Reichek's knowledge and skill, noting she adds tremendous value to their already strong appellate group.

January 29, 2025 Krista Torralva

SCOTUS Expands Opportunities to Challenge Agency Action in Corner Post

One of the Supreme Court’s less-heralded decisions from last term promises to have major consequences for businesses affected by federal regulations: Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

January 23, 2025 Stephen Hammer & Brian Richman

Removal Waiver Front and Center in En Banc Fifth Circuit Arguments 

The en banc oral arguments came in a dispute between Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner and former associate Edward Festeryga, who the firm alleges tried to take its clients with him when he left. The whole court agreed to hear the dispute after Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan — who sat on the panel that sided with the law firm and affirmed a ruling that sent the case back to state court — called for the move in a July 2024 concurring opinion that said the crux of the court’s 1980 holding in In re Weaver was “incorrect.”

January 22, 2025 Michelle Casady

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

Panel’s Dismissal of Texas’ Suit Against Google Sets Stage for SCOTX Review

In an 18-page ruling issued Thursday, Chief Justice Jaime Tijerina and Justices Clarissa Silva and Lionel Aron Peña Jr. held that the lawsuit — alleging Google violated state law when it made certain representations about how user location information and browsing history data is collected — cannot proceed in Texas courts.

January 10, 2025 Michelle Casady