Followers | 43 |
Posts | 5056 |
Boards Moderated | 0 |
Alias Born | 01/02/2003 |
Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:03:37 AM
Group blasts Texas Supreme Court for unsigned opinions
5/14/2008 12:48 PM
By Chris Rizo
Alex Winslow
AUSTIN(Legal Newsline)-A bevy of opinions issued last year by the Texas Supreme Court were written anonymously, so voters have no way of knowing where particular justices stand on many cases, a watchdog group says.
In a report issued Thursday, Texas Watch said the state's high court is largely operating outside the public eye, in secrecy.
The group said it found that 57 percent of the opinions issued in the court's 2006-07 term were anonymous and unsigned.
By comparison, just 5 percent of opinions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court for the same time period were unsigned, or per curiam.
"The Court's overuse of anonymous opinions reflects a penchant for secrecy," said Texas Watch Executive Director Alex Winslow.
"There is a cloud hanging over the Texas Supreme Court. There are ethics investigations, questions about the justices' work ethic, concerns about impartiality, and now revelations about a lack of transparency," he added.
The number of per curiam opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court has more than doubled since the panel's 2002-03 term. Per curiam decisions are typically used for court opinions that are not controversial, brief and for relatively obvious legal answers.
"All too often, the Texas Supreme Court uses per curiam opinions as a shield to hide behind when they render decisions that are controversial, leaving them unaccountable to the voters," the report said.
In Texas, only six of the nine justices must support a per curiam opinion in order for the opinion to be released, so an opinion that is not necessarily unanimous is nonetheless issued as a per curiam opinion, even when in fact it may not be an opinion of the entire court.
"We do not advocate that all of the Court's decisions be signed; however, per curiam opinions should be limited to only those cases that do not have a broad impact or that do not set a significant legal precedent," the Texas Watch report said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo by e-mail at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.
http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/212306-group-blasts-texas-supreme-court-for-unsigned-opinions
"Genius is eternal patience".......Michaelangelo
Recent IDCC News
- InterDigital Announces Convertibility of 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2027 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/03/2024 08:00:00 AM
- InterDigital signs license agreement with Google • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/02/2024 08:00:00 AM
- Form 11-K - Annual report of employee stock purchase, savings and similar plans • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/20/2024 12:30:40 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/12/2024 08:10:56 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/12/2024 08:10:42 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/12/2024 08:10:29 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/11/2024 09:26:41 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/11/2024 08:51:28 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/11/2024 08:42:45 PM
- InterDigital and Philips to Showcase Volumetric Streaming Technologies Empowering Immersive Sports Experiences at AWE USA 2024 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 06/11/2024 08:00:00 AM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/10/2024 08:30:24 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/10/2024 08:09:07 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/10/2024 08:06:53 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/10/2024 08:04:08 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/10/2024 08:01:44 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/07/2024 08:13:30 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/07/2024 08:10:01 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/07/2024 08:07:53 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/07/2024 08:06:54 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/07/2024 08:05:55 PM
- InterDigital Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 06/06/2024 08:30:00 PM
- InterDigital to Present at Upcoming Conferences • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/30/2024 12:30:00 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/06/2024 08:06:54 PM
- InterDigital Announces Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/02/2024 12:30:08 PM
- InterDigital awarded injunction against Lenovo • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/02/2024 12:30:00 PM
Glidelogic Corp. Becomes TikTok Shop Partner, Opening a New Chapter in E-commerce Services • GDLG • Jul 5, 2024 7:09 AM
Freedom Holdings Corporate Update; Announces Management Has Signed Letter of Intent • FHLD • Jul 3, 2024 9:00 AM
EWRC's 21 Moves Gaming Studios Moves to SONY Pictures Studios and Green Lights Development of a Third Upcoming Game • EWRC • Jul 2, 2024 8:00 AM
BNCM and DELEX Healthcare Group Announce Strategic Merger to Drive Expansion and Growth • BNCM • Jul 2, 2024 7:19 AM
NUBURU Announces Upcoming TV Interview Featuring CEO Brian Knaley on Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and Newsmax TV as Sponsored Programming • BURU • Jul 1, 2024 1:57 PM
Mass Megawatts Announces $220,500 Debt Cancellation Agreement to Improve Financing and Sales of a New Product to be Announced on July 11 • MMMW • Jun 28, 2024 7:30 AM