The new business court system in Texas is seeing a lack of judge applications, clouding its early prospects for success. Slated as a tempting proposition to corporations including Tesla Inc., the system is struggling to attract interest despite the efforts of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The state’s recruitment drive for the court is proving less than successful, with only a fraction of the required applications submitted thus far. A detailed examination by Bloomberg Law reveals the gaps in the application pool.
Specifically, for the 10 available bench positions, there have only been 14 applications. In Fort Worth, there are two openings but only one prospective candidate. Meanwhile, San Antonio and Dallas have just enough candidates to meet their quotas of two spots each.
The lack of interest has been attributed to the combination of comparatively low salaries and high experience requirements. The $140,000 annual salary plus the strict experience requirement are considered major obstacles deterring many potential candidates. The legislatures’ directive last year to Governor Abbott called for quick appointments to these positions, setting a rather ambitious timeline.
These difficulties are an early indication of the challenges that Texas might face in fulfilling its aspirations of becoming a major business and legal hub. The state is aiming to attract corporations through its new business court system, but these corporations require highly skilled and experienced judges for their complex legal needs. As the court system struggles to meet this requirement, its future ability to attract businesses is called into question.
Maintaining a strong and viable legal infrastructure is critical to the growth of any state into an attractive venue for businesses and corporations. The Texas business court system’s rocky start highlights the complexities in managing such growth.