SCOTX Rejects GOP State Convention Appeal

In a per curiam opinion issued this morning, the Texas Supreme Court dismissed the Republican Party of Texas’ appeal of a Houston district court’s refusal to order the operator of the George R. Brown Convention Center to allow the GOP State Convention to go forward. The 3-day convention was scheduled to commence Thursday, but last week Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner ordered the Houston First Corporation, which licenses the use of the Convention Center, to cancel its contract with the Party. Though the Court recognized that the Party undoubtedly has rights under the Constitution to hold a convention, “those rights do not allow it simply to commandeer the use of the Center.” The Court concluded that it had no jurisdiction to issue mandamus in this case because the Party sought performance of a contract, not the performance of a duty imposed by law. Justice Devine dissented.