Last fall, ChatGPT took the world by storm, allowing millions to experiment with “generative artificial intelligence” through a simple and intuitive interface. ChatGPT’s success drew competitors, one of which is Claude, whose creators claim it can analyze long PDF documents. To see what Claude could do, I uploaded the petitioners’ and respondents’ briefs from Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the 2022 case that overruled Roe v. Wade.
A Question on Certified Questions: Analyzing the Recent Increase in Queries from the Fifth Circuit
Over the last three years the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has sent more certified questions annually to the Texas Supreme Court than it has in decades. The recent increase — five in 2021, six in 2022 and four so far this year — is notable when compared to the average of 1.8 a year the Fifth Circuit had sent for the 24 years prior. Does accepting the questions — a discretionary decision by SCOTX — strain the court’s ability to decide disputes percolating through Texas’ 14 intermediate appellate courts?
Update: Oral Arguments Postponed in Paxton Disciplinary Case
The Fifth Court of Appeals has granted an unopposed request from Ken Paxton to postpone oral arguments in the lawsuit brought against him by the state bar’s Commission for Lawyer Discipline, days after he requested they be delayed until after the conclusion of his impeachment trial.
“The case will be reset for submission in due course,” the court’s order reads.
How SCOTUS ‘Shook the Rails’ on State Court Jurisdiction
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern has the potential to bring forth the most fundamental shift in jurisdictional case law in decades. The decision opens the doors for new state laws expanding their courts’ jurisdictional reach. Businesses operating in Texas must grapple with this uncertainty and the accompanying risks it presents.
Texas Supreme Court Provides Important Guidance on the Attorney-Client Privilege
Last week, the United States Supreme Court and Texas Supreme Court issued several high-profile opinions as they cleared the dockets from last year’s terms. With so many rulings issued at once, it could be easy to miss an opinion from the Texas Supreme Court with important practical implications for the attorney-client privilege under Texas law.
Assisted Living Center Fall Case Dismissed Under Medical Liability Act
The Texas Supreme Court said the wrongful death case was improperly cast as a premises liability claim. The plaintiff will lose her day in court by failing to meet a deadline for submitting an expert report required for health care liability claims. The assisted living industry was watching closely.
Divided SCOTX Sides with Jim Crane in Astros Sale Suit
In a 7-2 ruling issued Friday morning, the last day of the court’s term, the justices denied a request from the former owner of the Houston Astros, Drayton McLane, to bring an early end to a lawsuit brought by the team’s current owner, Jim Crane, alleging lies and deceptions caused him to overpay for the team in 2011. The ruling means Crane will have a chance to proceed with a trial in Harris County where he is seeking to recoup the entire $332 million he paid for a stake in the Houston Regional Sports Network that was part of his $615 million purchase of the Major League Baseball team.
Q&A with the State Bar of Texas President
Cindy V. Tisdale, a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Granbury, was sworn in June 22 as the new president of the State Bar of Texas. Tisdale, who practices family law, answered questions from The Lawbook about why she sought to lead the organization and what her goals are.