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Category Archives: Texas Supreme Court

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SCOTX: Attorney Fees Need Not Be Superseded on Appeal

Posted in Appellate Practice, Opinions & Judgments, Supersedeas, Supreme Court Orders, Texas Supreme Court

In November 2011, I posted about whether attorney fees must be superseded to stay execution of a judgment pending appeal. Today, in In re Nalle Plastics Family Limited Partnership (No. 11-0903), the Texas Supreme Court resolved a split among the intermediate courts of appeals and answered the question, “No.” Let me set the stage a… Continue Reading

SCOTX Fixes Word-Count Glitches

Posted in Appellate Practice, Procedure, Supreme Court Orders, Texas Supreme Court

The Texas Supreme Court has issued an order correcting some of its recent amendments to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The most notable correction involves the certificate-of-compliance requirement regarding the new word count limits previously discussed here, here, and here. By adding the language underlined below, the Court has made clear that no certificate… Continue Reading

Some Appellate Judicial Wisdom in 140-Character Bites

Posted in Appellate Practice, Fifth Circuit, Oral Argument, Procedure, Texas Supreme Court

Over the past week, I have attended two CLE events featuring a panel of appellate judges. At the 29th Annual Litigation Update Institute, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, Justice Paul Green, and Justice Debra Lehrmann enlightened attendees on current events at the Texas Supreme Court.  Today, Fifth Circuit Judges Pete Benavides and Pricilla Owen and U.S…. Continue Reading

Crafting a TRAP 9.4(i)(3) Certificate of Compliance

Posted in Appellate Practice, Briefs, Procedure, Texas Supreme Court

As promised yesterday, this post will cover what a certificate of compliance under the new word-count rules might look like, now that every computer-generated document filed in a Texas appellate court on or after December 1, 2012—yes, every one, except for the record—must include such a certificate. The new rules provide the logical starting place…. Continue Reading

Word-Count Rules Going Into Effect December 1

Posted in Appellate Practice, Briefs, Procedure, Technology, Texas Supreme Court

A trial lawyer poses the following question: Do you know for sure whether the new appellate rules are going into effect December 1? Any thoughts on whether an appeal filed on November 29 (but not actually due until December 3) should maintain the old format or use the new rule? Per this Texas Supreme Court… Continue Reading

Governor Perry Appoints Boyd to Supreme Court

Posted in Announcements, News & Politics, Texas Supreme Court

Governor Perry has announced the appointment of Jeffrey S. Boyd (pictured) to fill the Texas Supreme Court seat vacated by former Justice Dale Wainwright. The official press release is available here. Boyd currently serves as the Governor’s chief of staff and is the Governor’s former general counsel. He was a partner in the Austin office… Continue Reading

Changes Coming to 3rd and 4th Courts of Appeals

Posted in Courts of Appeals, News & Politics, Texas Supreme Court

With some notable exceptions, yesterday was a good day for incumbents running for re-election to the Texas appellate courts. Texas Supreme Court Justices Nathan Hecht and Don Willett retained their seats. Though not an incumbent, former district judge John Devine did not have a major-party opponent and won election easily. On the Court of Criminal… Continue Reading

What Happens in the Event of a Evenly Split SCOTX Vote?

Posted in Appellate Practice, Texas Supreme Court

Justice Wainwright’s recent departure from the Texas Supreme Court has raised an interesting question.  As presented to me by a colleague, it goes like this: Without Justice Wainwright, what happens if the Court is split 4-4? Do they just have to fight over it until someone gives in to reach a majority? My initial thought… Continue Reading