The depth of the bench for non-marquee statewide races, like the state’s two high courts and the Railroad Commission, is a measure of how high Democratic hopes have soared ahead of the 2020 election.
Texas Supreme Court
Posted inState Government
Gov. Greg Abbott selects former appeals court judge Jane Bland for Texas Supreme Court
Bland lost her Houston appeals court seat in the November 2018 election.
Posted in
Politics
With a new vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court, attention turns to diversity concerns
Gov. Greg Abbott has his third opportunity to appoint a judge to the state’s highest civil court. His first two picks were white men.
Posted in
Politics
U.S. Senate confirms Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown to the federal bench
The nod creates a vacancy on the state’s highest civil court, giving Gov. Greg Abbott his third opportunity to make an appointment.
Posted in
Politics
State leaders again want to review how Texas elects judges. Will they end partisan judicial elections?
After an election that swept scores of Republican judges out of office, Gov. Greg Abbott is eyeing judicial selection reform. Advocates hope that the perennial issue may finally draw some attention.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Supreme Court rules Texas can hide the identity of execution drug supplier
Citing security concerns, the state has fought for years to keep the supplier’s name secret.
Posted inState Government
A newly elected county judge resigned abruptly. Just one problem: It was an accident.
Judge William McLeod declared his run for the Texas Supreme Court. But as he later discovered, doing so invoked a provision in the state’s constitution that may force him to leave his post.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Senate confirms Brett Busby for Supreme Court post
Busby, a Republican judge and former U.S. Supreme Court clerk, served on an appellate court in Houston until voters rejected him in November as part of a Democratic sweep.
Posted in
Politics
Houston judge tosses same-sex marriage benefits challenge, but plaintiffs pledge to appeal
A newly elected Democratic judge issued the decision in the latest turn of a 2013 legal challenge to Houston’s policy extending benefits to municipal employees’ same-sex spouses.
Posted in
Politics
With eager candidates waiting in the wings, Texas Supreme Court slot sits open
An appointment to the high court would require a two-thirds confirmation vote, potentially handing Texas Senate Democrats an important bargaining chip in the contentious legislative debates to come.
