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A splintered Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that an Austin television station and its reporter should be forced to stand trial against libel allegations even if the media reports in question were substantially true – and possibly literally true. Chief Justice Jefferson, writing a blistering dissent, states that the court’s decision “abridges the freedom to report on a matter of public concern.”

“It collides violently with the First Amendment,” he wrote.

The firm was able to remove an intellectually challenged man off of death row in exchange for life in prison, thus ending 12 years of litigation.

The Dallas-based private equity firm is purchasing North American Gypsum for $700 million in a deal that took only a couple weeks to negotiate and sign.

Verbal persuasion—whether through written briefs or oral argument—is a trial lawyer’s stock-in-trade. A persuasive brief is typo-free, plainly written, and respectful (but not sterile). Likewise, lawyers can improve their persuasiveness at oral argument by being judicious in their use of PowerPoint presentations, listening and responding to the court’s questions, and eschewing the knee-jerk preference for more senior advocates.

A three judge panel issued a potential groundbreaking opinion on intra-district venue shopping that could impact scores of IP disputes in East and North Texas.

Aric Short has been the interim dean of Texas Wesleyan School of Law for only three weeks but his agenda is full. He’s leading the law school’s effort for accreditation while helping it transition to Texas A&M control. But he still found some time to talk with The Texas Lawbook.