In a week that saw a seismic change in Texas political governance, Texas dealmakers still managed to push a dozen deals across the finish line. And given the slow walk of transactions taking place before the election, last week shows that Texas dealmaking still has a pulse.
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‘Triage’ Mode: 15th COA Cancels Four Oral Arguments Set for December
After a historic election sweep that ousted its three Republican justices, the Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals has canceled four December oral arguments to clear its backlog before the new all-Democrat bench takes over. Here are the four high-profile cases caught in the transition.
Ousted SCOTX Justice Eyes Federal Bench
Days before losing his election bid, Texas Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan submitted a questionnaire to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for a federal judicial position on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin. President Donald Trump has yet to make an announcement nominating Justice Sullivan.
P.S. – Texas Bar Foundation Awards More Than $1 Million to Nonprofits
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.
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.