The Supreme Court of Texas Blog

Voting-affinity data
for the 2017-2020 Terms
(September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2020)

Hecht

Devine

In 2017-2020, they participated together in 271 signed decisions

Joined the same opinions	241/271	88.9%
Different opinions, same judgment	9/271	3.3%
Agreed on judgment	250/271	92.3%
Disagreed on judgment	21/271	7.7%

And 86 of those led to split (non-unanimous) opinions

Joined the same opinions	56/86	65.1%
Different opinions, same judgment	9/86	10.5%
Agreed on judgment	65/86	75.6%
Disagreed on judgment	21/86	24.4%

Within those 86 cases that had some split opinions:

56 cases:
Joined the same opinions

DEBRA C. GUNN, M.D., OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, P.A., AND OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES P.L.L.C. v. ANDRE MCCOY, AS PERMANENT GUARDIAN OF SHANNON MILES MCCOY, AN INCAPACITATED PERSON, No. 16-0125

Majority

JOY WORSDALE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF SCOTT WORSDALE, ET AL. v. THE CITY OF KILLEEN, TEXAS, No. 18-0329

Majority

IN RE OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, OXY INGLESIDE ENERGY CENTER, LLC, OXY INGLESIDE LPG TERMINAL LLC, AND OXY INGLESIDE OIL TERMINAL LLC, No. 18-0660

Majority

LADONNA DEGAN, RIC TERRONES, JOHN MCGUIRE, REED HIGGINS, MIKE GURLEY, LARRY EDDINGTON, AND STEVEN MCBRIDE v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM, No. 19-0234

Majority

STEVEN PAINTER; TONYA WRIGHT, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF EARL A. WRIGHT, III, DECEASED; VIRGINIA WEAVER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF A.A.C., A MINOR; AND TABITHA R. ROSELLO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERT CARILLO, DECEASED v. AMERIMEX DRILLING I, LTD., No. 16-0120

Majority

UDR TEXAS PROPERTIES, L.P. D/B/A THE GALLERY APARTMENTS, UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC., ASR OF DELAWARE, L.L.C., AND UDR WESTERN RESIDENTIAL, INC. v. ALAN PETRIE, No. 15-0197

Majority

HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC., HELIX WELL OPS, INC., AND HELIX OFFSHORE INTERNATIONAL, INC. v. KELVIN GOLD, No. 16-0075

Majority

SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY v. AUSTIN BRIDGE & ROAD, L.P. AND HAYWARD BAKER, INC., No. 17-0905

Dissent

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION v. GLENN HEGAR, COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND KEN PAXTON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, No. 18-0566

Majority

WILLIAM A. BREWER III v. LENNOX HEARTH PRODUCTS, LLC; TURNER & WITT PLUMBING, INC.; STRONG CUSTOM BUILDERS, LLC; THERMO DYNAMIC INSULATION, LLC; STATE FARM LLOYDS INSURANCE COMPANY; KEN AND BECKY TEEL; ROSS AND MEG RUSHING, No. 18-0426

Majority

CITY OF LAREDO, TEXAS v. LAREDO MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, No. 16-0748

Majority

EX PARTE E.H., No. 18-0932

Majority

REY GARZA v. ROXANA REGALADO HARRISON AND JOSEPH SANTELLANA, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS RESPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JONATHEN ANTHONY SANTELLANA, DECEASED, No. 17-0724

Majority

RICHARD T. ARCHER, DAVID B. ARCHER, CAROL ARCHER BUGG, JOHN V. ARCHER, KAREN ARCHER BALL, AND SHERRI ARCHER v. T. MARK ANDERSON AND CHRISTINE ANDERSON, AS CO-EXECUTORS OF THE ESTATE OF TED ANDERSON, No. 16-0256

Majority

FORT WORTH TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, MCDONALD TRANSIT ASSOCIATES, INC., MCDONALD TRANSIT, INC., AND LESHAWN VAUGHN v. MICHELE RODRIGUEZ AND NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, No. 16-0542

Majority

IN THE INTEREST OF H.S., A MINOR CHILD, No. 16-0715

Majority

BART DALTON v. CAROL DALTON, No. 17-0155

Majority

LEVINSON ALCOSER ASSOCIATES, L.P. AND LEVINSON ASSOCIATES, INC. v. EL PISTOLÓN II, LTD., No. 15-0232

Majority

U.S. SHALE ENERGY II, LLC, RAYMOND B. ROUSH, RUTHIE ROUSH DODGE, AND DAVID E. ROUSH v. LABORDE PROPERTIES, L.P., AND LABORDE MANAGEMENT, LLC, No. 17-0111

Majority

WALLACE L. HALL, JR., IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS A REGENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM v. WILLIAM H. MCRAVEN, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CHANCELLOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, No. 16-0773

Majority

IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF I.C. AND Q.C. AND IN THE INTEREST OF S.C. AND K.C., CHILDREN, No. 16-0770

Majority

RON SOMMERS, AS CHAPTER 7 TRUSTEE FOR ALABAMA AND DUNLAVY, LTD., FLAT STONE II, LTD., AND FLAT STONE, LTD., AND AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JAY COHEN, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE JHC TRUSTS I AND II v. SANDCASTLE HOMES, INC., No. 15-0847

Dissent

AC INTERESTS, L.P., FORMERLY AMERICAN COATINGS, L.P. v. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, No. 16-0260

Majority

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO v. ROXANA TENORIO, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF PEDRO TENORIO, DECEASED, No. 16-0356

Majority

DR. BEHZAD NAZARI, D.D.S., ET AL. v. THE STATE OF TEXAS; XEROX CORPORATION; AND XEROX STATE HEALTHCARE, LLC, F/K/A ACS STATE HEALTHCARE, LLC, No. 16-0549

Majority

IN RE DEAN DAVENPORT, ET AL., No. 15-0882

Majority

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. v. CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, No. 15-0502

Majority

CHARLES J. HUGHES v. TOM GREEN COUNTY, No. 17-0409

Majority

JULIE HERSH v. JOHN TATUM AND MARY ANN TATUM, No. 16-0096

Majority

BARBARA BATY v. OLGA FUTRELL, CRNA, AND COMPLETE ANESTHESIA CARE, P.C., No. 16-0164

Majority

THE STATE OF TEXAS EX REL. GEORGE DARRELL BEST v. PAUL REED HARPER, No. 16-0647

Majority

KEN PAXTON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS v. CITY OF DALLAS, No. 15-0073

Majority

ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT v. CATHERINE CLARK, No. 16-0244

Majority

JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS v. JEFFERSON COUNTY CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION, No. 16-0498

Majority

KMS RETAIL ROWLETT, LP F/K/A KMS RETAIL HUNTSVILLE, LP v. CITY OF ROWLETT, TEXAS, No. 17-0850

Majority

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS INC. v. DOREATHA WALKER, No. 16-0897

Majority

HONORS ACADEMY, INC., D/B/A HONORS ACADEMY AND AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS, INC., D/B/A AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS CHARTER SCHOOL v. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND MICHAEL MORATH, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS TEXAS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, No. 16-0519

Majority

W&T OFFSHORE, INC. v. WESLEY FREDIEU, No. 18-1134

Majority

WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY v. JAMES WEDEL AND MICHELLE WEDEL, No. 17-0462

Majority

MURPHY EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY—USA, A DELAWARE CORPORATION v. SHIRLEY ADAMS, CHARLENE BURGESS, WILLIE MAE HERBST JASIK, WILLIAM ALBERT HERBST, HELEN HERBST, AND R. MAY OIL & GAS COMPANY, LTD., No. 16-0505

Majority

TRACY WINDRUM, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF HER MINOR CHILDREN, B.W., J.W., AND H.W. v. VICTOR KAREH, M.D., No. 17-0328

Majority

CONWAY WAAK, JR. AND MARLENE WAAK D/B/A CARMINE CHAROLAIS RANCH AND CARMINE CHAROLAIS RANCH v. RAUL AMPARO ZUNIGA RODRIGUEZ AND ANA MARIA ORTIZ MARTINEZ, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF RAUL AMPARO ZUNIGA ORTIZ JR.; AND JUANA GUADALUPE MARTINEZ, AS NEXT FRIEND OF SEBASTIAN ZUNIGA AND WENDY ZUNIGA, ET AL., No. 19-0167

Majority

IN RE NATIONAL LLOYDS INSURANCE COMPANY, WARDLAW CLAIMS SERVICE, INC. AND IDEAL ADJUSTING, INC., No. 15-0591

Majority

D MAGAZINE PARTNERS, L.P. D/B/A D MAGAZINE, MAGAZINE LIMITED PARTNERS, L.P., AND ALLISON MEDIA, INC. v. JANAY BENDER ROSENTHAL, No. 15-0790

Majority

TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS v. RODERICK LYDELL BONNER, No. 18-0431

Majority

CLINTON W. (“BUDDY”) PIKE, SR., DANIEL L. WALKER, W. TOBIN WILSON, VHSC CEMENT, LLC, AND FEW READY MIX CONCRETE CO. v. TEXAS EMC MANAGEMENT, LLC, TEXAS EMC PRODUCTS, LP, AND EMC CEMENT, BV, No. 17-0557

Majority

BONSMARA NATURAL BEEF COMPANY, LLC AND GEORGE CHAPMAN, INDIVIDUALLY v. HART OF TEXAS CATTLE FEEDERS, LLC, JAMES MICHAEL HAYES, INDIVIDUALLY, LYNN LANDRUM, INDIVIDUALLY, AND HENRY O. PICKETT II, INDIVIDUALLY, No. 19-0263

Dissent

VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT v. CURTIS MECK, No. 18-0458

Concurrence

RUBEN ALEMAN, M.D. v. TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD, No. 17-0385

Majority

IN RE STATE OF TEXAS, No. 20-0394

Majority

GUY JAMES GRAY v. PATRICIA SKELTON, No. 18-0386

Majority

PIRANHA PARTNERS, RANDOLPH MUNDT, AND THOMAS H. OWEN, JR., INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PARTNERS OF PIRANHA PARTNERS, AND CHARLES RAY OWEN v. JOE B. NEUHOFF AND NANCY M. NEUHOFF; THOMAS H. NEUHOFF AND JUDY A. NEUHOFF; ROBERT V. NEUHOFF AND ANDREA D. NEUHOFF; AND BOCA VAIL, INC., No. 18-0581

Majority

DELIA PAGAYON, MICHELLE FULTON, ALFREDO G. PAGAYON, MICHAEL G. PAGAYON, AND THE ESTATE OF ALFREDO M. PAGAYON v. EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION, No. 15-0642

Majority

IN RE COLTON LESTER, No. 18-1041

Majority

MO-VAC SERVICE COMPANY, INC. v. PRIMITIVO ESCOBEDO, INDIVIDUALLY, SAN JUANITA ESCOBEDO, INDIVIDUALLY, AND MARTHA ESCOBEDO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF FABIAN ESCOBEDO, No. 18-0852

Majority

IN RE C.J.C., No. 19-0694

Majority

9 cases:
Some divergence on opinions

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, INC. AND STEVE BLOW v. JOHN TATUM AND MARY ANN TATUM, No. 16-0098

Majority

AMANDA BRADSHAW v. BARNEY SAMUEL BRADSHAW, No. 16-0328

Concurrence

Plurality

KING STREET PATRIOTS, CATHERINE ENGELBRECHT, BRYAN ENGELBRECHT, AND DIANE JOSEPHS v. TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY; GILBERTO HINOJOSA, SUCCESSOR TO BOYD RICHIE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY; JOHN WARREN, IN HIS CAPACITY AS DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR DALLAS COUNTY CLERK; AND ANN BENNETT, IN HER CAPACITY AS THE DEMOCRATIC, No. 15-0320

Concurrence

Majority

THE EL PASO EDUCATION INITIATIVE, INC., D/B/A BURNHAM WOOD CHARTER SCHOOL v. AMEX PROPERTIES, LLC, No. 18-1167

Concurrence

Majority

ERIC D. HILLMAN v. NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS AND NUECES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, No. 17-0588

Concurrence

Majority

ROSENBERG DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION v. IMPERIAL PERFORMING ARTS, INC., No. 17-0660

Concurrence

Majority

PEDERNAL ENERGY, LLC v. BRUINGTON ENGINEERING, LTD., No. 15-0123

Concurrence

Majority

IN THE INTEREST OF D.S., A CHILD, No. 18-0908

Concurrence

Majority

PATRICIA MOSLEY v. TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, No. 17-0345

Concurrence

Majority

21 cases:
Disagreed about the judgment

IN RE VERNA FRANCIS COLEY THETFORD, No. 17-0634

Dissent

Majority

GEORGE P. BUSH, AS THE LAND COMMISSIONER OF THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE v. LONE OAK CLUB, LLC, No. 18-0264

Dissent

Majority

BANKDIRECT CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, A SUBSIDIARY OF TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, N.A. v. PLASMA FAB, LLC AND RUSSELL MCCANN, No. 15-0635

Dissent

Majority

WADE BRADY v. LEAANNE KLENTZMAN AND CARTER PUBLICATIONS, INC. D/B/A THE WEST FORT BEND STAR, INC., No. 15-0056

Dissent

Majority

USAA TEXAS LLOYDS COMPANY v. GAIL MENCHACA, No. 14-0721

Concur/Dissent

Concurrence

Plurality

BENEDICT G. WENSKE AND ELIZABETH WENSKE v. STEVE EALY AND DEBORAH EALY, No. 16-0353

Dissent

Majority

IN RE NORTH CYPRESS MEDICAL CENTER OPERATING CO., LTD., No. 16-0851

Majority

Dissent

THOMAS A. LALONDE, JR., P.E., INDIVIDUALLY AND D/B/A LEE ENGINEERING CO., LEE ENGINEERING CO., STANLEY HAROLD PRATHER AND PRATHER ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, INC. v. PAUL GOSNELL AND KIM GOSNELL, No. 16-0966

Dissent

Majority

UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD v. VALERIE REDUS, ET AL., No. 18-0351

Dissent

Majority

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER v. LANCE MCKENZIE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF COURTNEY MCKENZIE-THUE (DECEASED), AND DEBORAH DIVER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF J.O., A MINOR, No. 17-0730

Dissent

Majority

CADENA COMERCIAL USA CORP. D/B/A OXXO v. TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION, No. 14-0819

Dissent

Majority

ETC MARKETING, LTD. v. HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, No. 15-0687

Dissent

Majority

IN RE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS, No. 20-0525

Dissent

Per Curiam

AMERICAN K-9 DETECTION SERVICES, LLC AND HILL COUNTRY DOG CENTER, LLC v. LATASHA FREEMAN, No. 15-0932

Dissent

Majority

UNITED SCAFFOLDING, INC. v. JAMES LEVINE, No. 15-0921

Majority

Dissent

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; WARNER BROS. TECHNICAL OPERATIONS, INC. D/B/A WARNER BROS. ADVANCED DIGITAL SERVICES; TMZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.; EHM PRODUCTION, INC. D/B/A TMZ; TMZ.COM; AND ELIZABETH MCKERNAN v. ROBERT JONES, No. 18-0068

Dissent

Majority

DAWN NETTLES v. GTECH CORPORATION AND THE TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION, No. 17-1010

Concur/Dissent

Majority

BARBARA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION v. STATE FARM LLOYDS, No. 17-0640

Dissent

Majority

OSCAR ORTIZ v. STATE FARM LLOYDS, No. 17-1048

Concur/Dissent

Majority

BARROW-SHAVER RESOURCES COMPANY v. CARRIZO OIL & GAS, INC., No. 17-0332

Concur/Dissent

Majority

TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, HARTFORD UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY, TASB RISK MANAGEMENT FUND, TRANSPORTATION INSURANCE COMPANY, TRUCK INSURANCE EXCHANGE, TWIN CITY FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, VALLEY FORGE INSURANCE COMPANY, ET AL. v. PHI AIR MEDICAL, LLC, No. 18-0216

Dissent

Majority

In 2017-2020, they participated together in 271 signed decisions

And 86 of those led to split (non-unanimous) opinions

56 cases:Joined the same opinions

9 cases:Some divergence on opinions

21 cases:Disagreed about the judgment

56 cases:
Joined the same opinions

9 cases:
Some divergence on opinions

21 cases:
Disagreed about the judgment