Hinojosa Files Proposed Constitutional Amendment Addressing District Court Bench Qualifications
Hinojosa Files Proposed Constitutional Amendment Addressing District Court Bench Qualifications

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) has filed a proposed constitutional amendment to address Texas’ low standard for qualifying an attorney to serve on the district court bench. SJR 25 would amend §7, Article V, Texas Constitution to increase the current four-year practice or lower court judicial service requirement for district court judges to ten years. In past sessions, TCJL has strongly supported efforts to enhance judicial qualifications. Our concern has only heightened since the November election, which resulted in a wholesale turnover in the Dallas, Houston, and Austin Courts of Appeals and the removal of 255 years of combined judicial experience from the appellate courts.
Although Senator Hinojosa’s proposal does not address the appellate courts at this time, it represents an important first step in addressing a growing problem in the judicial system. TCJL looks forward to working with Senator Hinojosa and members of the Senate and House to improve the quality and independence of the judiciary.
Want new articles directly to your inbox?
Subscribe to our Publishing Service.
SCOTX Mandamuses Houston [14th] Court of Appeals to Consider Whether Judgment Debtor Posted Adequate Alternative Security
In a per curiam opinion, SCOTX sent the matter back to the court of appeals. Issue one was the dispute over ex-husband’s net worth. After detailing the applicable statutes (§§ 52.006, .007) and TRAP 24.1 and 24.2, the Court noted that the parties agreed that the trial...
SCOTX Reverses Plainly Erroneous El Paso Court of Appeals Decision in Commercial Trucking Case
The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a divided El Paso Court of Appeals’ ruling that a plaintiff in a commercial trucking case presented more than a scintilla of evidence to overcome defendants’ no-evidence summary judgment motion where plaintiff didn’t have any...
SCOTX Reverses Nuclear Verdict in Werner Case
In a case in which we and just about every other organization on the defense side of the bar appeared as amici, the Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Houston [14th] Court of Appeals opinion affirming a $100 million verdict against a commercial trucking company. The...