In a pivotal decision, the Texas Supreme Court has approved the establishment of a new statewide intermediary appeals court, set to commence operations on September 1. This decision comes after the court addressed and dismissed a constitutional challenge that could have significantly disrupted the judiciary system. The justices affirmed that the Texas legislature holds the authority to create appeals courts with jurisdiction over the entire state, departing from the conventional regional limitations.
Justice Evan Young, writing for the court, noted, “Given the text, as well as our constitutional history and tradition, we cannot conclude that the legislature exceeded its authority in enacting S.B. 1045 and creating the Fifteenth Court.” This new court, known as the 15th Appeals Court, will notably also handle appeals originating from business courts, positioning it as an influential entity in the Texan legal landscape.
For further details, you can read the full decision by the Texas Supreme Court here, and for additional context, see the Bloomberg Law coverage here.