In this edition of P.S., the Texas Bar Foundation distributes more than $1 million in fall grants, and the Texas Access to Justice Commission recognizes a St. Mary’s law student and Texas Tech Law for pro bono excellence. Plus, the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association honors the Sommerman team behind a $21.3 million First Amendment verdict, and Akin’s Steven Schulman takes home a national pro bono leadership award.
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Civil Litigation Experts: 2026 SCOTX, 15th COA and Texas AG Elections Will Have ‘Monumental Impact’
The unexpected election of four Democrats to the Texas Supreme Court and three to the new Fifteenth Court of Appeals fundamentally alters the state’s civil justice landscape. More than a dozen prominent Texas trial and appellate lawyers weigh in on how the new courts — and a new attorney general — will reshape corporate dockets, jury verdicts and the balance of power.
Dallas Jury Hands $16.2M Verdict to Family Struck by Alleged Drunk Driver
A Dallas County jury awarded $16.2 million to a family struck by an alleged drunk driver, finding the defendant was grossly negligent. The jury deliberated for about four hours last week after a four-day trial in Judge Dianne Jones’ courtroom.
Meet the Four Democrats Who Just Upended the Texas Supreme Court
For over three decades, Republicans had a tight grip on Texas. That changed on Tuesday. Texans not only elected their first Latina governor, but four Democrats unseated Republican Texas Supreme Court justices. Republicans still hold the majority on the bench, but for the first time in the state’s history, a woman was elected chief justice.
Dems Pick Up 4 Seats on Intermediate COAs
In the intermediate appellate court races, Democrats picked up four seats total — three across the two appellate courts in Houston and one on the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, which serves the area of Corpus Christi and Edinburg. A total of 22 seats for the First through Fourteenth Courts of Appeals were on yesterday’s ballot, with 18 seats staying with their incumbent parties. In those races, a total of 10 candidates won reelection.
Asked & Answered with Texas Business Court Judge Marialyn Barnard: Switching Careers and What’s Next for the Court
In this edition of Asked & Answered, Texas Business Court Judge Marialyn Barnard, recently appointed to her second term on the bench, says serving on the court is the highlight of her career. She also talks about passing the bar at age 39, teaching high school English and why she wants lawmakers to expand the Business Court’s jurisdiction across the state.
In a Shocker, Democrats Sweep Top Appeals Court Elections
For the first time in 32 years, Texas will have Democrats on the state’s Supreme Court. With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, three Austin Appeals Court justices and a Harris County district court judge are leading four incumbent Republican justices by margins of four to six percent. The expected victory by the four Democrats places them one vote shy of a majority on the nine-member court. In another shocker — and probably the one with the most immediate impact — Democrats have ousted all three sitting Republican justices on the Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals.
Texas Supreme Court, 15th Court of Appeals Elections Too Close to Call
For the first time in 32 years, Texas appears ever so close late Tuesday night to electing Democrats to the state’s Supreme Court. The blue wave that swept the state seems to have a similar but lesser impact on the major judicial elections, including the four Democrats running against incumbents on the state Supreme Court and three Democrats seeking to oust sitting justices on the Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals.
New Governance Structure Means No Chapter 11 Trustee in Camp Mystic Bankruptcy
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez has approved Camp Mystic’s proposal to hand control of its wrongful death litigation to two independent fiduciaries. The 19-page order avoids the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee but leaves the door open for future challenges from creditors.
Munsch Hardt Builds Up Corporate Practice in Dallas
Austin Freeman, who was previously at Egan Nelson, is the fifth shareholder to join Munsch’s Corporate & Securities section this year.