After serving nearly 16 years on the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Paul W. Green — or “PWG” as he is affectionately known at the court — will retire the end of the current term. As the second-most senior member of the state’s high court, Justice Green has authored 99 majority opinions in some of the most important cases in Texas jurisprudence. Lawyers at Haynes and Boone take a look back at a few of Justice Green’s most notable opinions.
Judiciary Network Limps Back From Ransomware Attack
A ransomware attack May 8 from a Russian IP address crashed access to the state’s appeals court records. But it didn’t stop the business of the courts. Janet Elliott looks back at what happened and how the state responded to the unprecedented attack.
[Updated] SCOTX Justice Paul Green Retires: ‘It Just Seemed Like the Right Time’
Justice Paul Green, the second-longest sitting justice on the Supreme Court of Texas, announced Tuesday that he is retiring at the end of August. A third-generation lawyer, Justice Green has been a reliably conservative vote on a state supreme court loaded with conservatives. Justice Green was re-elected in 2016 and his term officially ends in December 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott will appoint his successor.
McGirt v. Oklahoma’s Potentially Sweeping Regulatory Implications for the Oil & Gas Industry
The decision, which commentators are describing as “stunning,” will have regulatory consequences far beyond defining the criminal jurisdiction of state and federal courts. This article looks at key takeaways for companies with a stake in oil and gas development in the affected region.
Dallas Lawyer Dan Geyser: From Solo Shop to SCOTUS Practice Leader
Dallas appellate specialist Dan Geyser has argued nine cases at the U.S. Supreme Court – almost certainly the most of any lawyer in private practice in Texas. He argued five Supreme Court cases in two years – a large number for even the most sought-after Supreme Court practitioners. But last month, Geyser left his solo practice to join the Texas-based appellate firm Alexander Dubose & Jefferson as its U.S. Supreme Court and federal appellate practice chair. Why? Texas Lawbook correspondent Tony Mauro has the exclusive details.
SCOTX Rejects Federal Standard for TWC Air Ambulance Claims
In a big win for private insurance companies, the Texas Supreme Court said more than $50 million in disputed air ambulance fees were covered by Texas Workers Compensation standards, not federal aviation rules.
Missouri Appeals Court Upholds $2.11B Judgment for Mark Lanier’s Clients in Talcum Powder Case
An appeals court in Missouri handed 20 women, including two from Texas, a partial but still major $2.11 billion victory Tuesday by upholding a jury’s verdict against a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson for making and selling asbestos-containing talcum powder products that led to the women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
SCOTX Wipes $16.5M Judgment in Complicated Partnership Dispute
Almost 10 years after it began, the Texas Supreme Court has ended a contentious legal battle over a business partnership breakup. While the reasoning behind tossing a multimillion-dollar judgment was simple, the justices found themselves debating over a lesser-included issue about who can recover damages on behalf of a partnership.
Judicial Profile: Judge Mark T. Pittman, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman has served on three different courts in six years. His cases and issues run the gamut. Central to his judicial philosophy is to acknowledge what he doesn’t know. In a wide-ranging interview with Haynes and Boone appellate lawyer Chris Knight, Judge Pittman told his story and shared his judicial preferences.
Supreme Court Rules for Pipeline Project Under the Appalachian Trail
In a 7-2 decision by Justice Clarence Thomas, the court ruled that the U.S. Forest Service had the authority to issue a permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The decision overturns a ruling by the U.S. Fourth Circuit. Tony Mauro reports from Washington.