Opinions

Justice Brown delivered the unanimous opinion of the Court with respect to Parts I, II, III.B, and IV, the opinion of the Court with respect to Part III.A, in which Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Green, Justice Guzman, and Justice Devine joined, and an opinion with respect to Part III.C, in which Chief Justice Hecht and Justice Johnson joined. PDF

Justice Boyd delivered a concurring opinion, in which Justice Lehrmann and Justice Blacklock joined. View Electronic Briefs | Oral Argument | Video PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:	5th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:	Aff/Pt and Rev & Rem/Pt
COA Docket No.:	05-14-01017-CV
Opinion Author:	Honorable William G. Whitehill

Trial Court

Trial Court:	68th District Court
County:	Dallas
Trial Judge:	Honorable Martin J. Hoffman
Trial Docket:	DC-11-07371

Date	Event	Outcome
2018-09-28	Mandate issued
2018-09-28	Motion for Rehearing - Disposed	Denied
2018-09-04	Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filed (Respondent)
2018-08-20	Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.	Filing granted
2018-08-20	Miscellaneous Motion
2018-08-15	Response to Motion for Rehearing (Petitioner)
2018-07-31	Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response
2018-07-30	Motion for Rehearing
2018-07-30	Case forwarded to Court
2018-06-20	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed	Filing granted
2018-06-20	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing
2018-05-25	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-05-16	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-05-14	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-05-14	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed	Filing granted
2018-05-11	Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record	Issued
2018-05-11	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing
2018-05-11	Concurring Opinion issued.	Issued
2018-05-11	Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.	Denied
2018-05-11	Opinion issued	Court of Appeals' judgment reversed & judgment rendered
2018-05-04	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-04-12	Call received
2018-04-05	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-03-21	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-03-20	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-03-09	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-02-16	Amicus Curiae Letter Received
2018-01-10	Submission Schedule
2018-01-10	Oral argument
2018-01-09	Phone call from Clerk's Office
2018-01-09	Call received
2018-01-02	Letter Filed
2017-12-13	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2017-12-13	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2017-12-13	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2017-10-27	Submission reset	Case set for oral argument
2017-10-20	Motion to Argue disposed	Filing granted
2017-10-04	Miscellaneous Motion
2017-09-01	Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2017-09-01	Petition for Review granted
2017-09-01	Case set for oral argument	Case set for oral argument
2017-08-11	Fully hyperlinked brief filed (Respondent)
2017-08-11	Fully hyperlinked brief filed (Respondent)
2017-08-11	Fully hyperlinked brief filed (Respondent)
2017-08-11	Fully hyperlinked brief filed (Respondent)
2017-08-02	Fully hyperlinked brief filed (Petitioner)
2017-07-24	Reply to Response to Motion
2017-07-13	Response to Motion filed
2017-06-29	Miscellaneous Motion
2017-06-28	Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filed (Respondent)
2017-06-20	Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.	Filing granted
2017-06-16	Miscellaneous Motion
2017-06-15	Reply Brief (Petitioner)
2017-06-07	Pro hac vice motion disposed	Filing granted
2017-06-07	Pro hac vice motion disposed	Filing granted
2017-06-06	Pro hac vice motion filed
2017-06-06	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2017-06-06	Pro hac vice motion filed
2017-06-06	Phone call from Clerk's Office
2017-05-25	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2017-05-22	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2017-04-21	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2017-04-21	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2017-04-12	Brief on the Merits (Respondent)
2017-03-01	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2017-03-01	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2017-02-02	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2017-02-02	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2017-01-20	Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)
2016-12-15	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2016-12-15	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2016-11-02	Case Record Filed
2016-10-26	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2016-10-26	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2016-10-24	Record Requested in Petition for Review
2016-10-21	Brief on the Merits Requested
2016-09-20	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2016-08-18	Reply to Response (Petitioner)
2016-08-03	Response to Petition (Respondent)
2016-07-26	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed	Filing granted
2016-07-25	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response
	This case was waiting for a decision about briefing or a possible grant between May 31, 2016 and July 25, 2016.
2016-05-31	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed	Filing granted
2016-05-29	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response
2016-05-27	Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response
2016-04-26	Case forwarded to Court
2016-04-22	Response Waiver filed
2016-04-12	Petition for Review (Petitioner)
2016-03-14	Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2016-03-09	Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed
2016-02-10	Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2016-02-10	Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed

Party	Counsel	Role
Blow, Steve	Mr. Paul C. Watler Mr. Wallace B. Jefferson Ms. Shannon Z. Teicher Ms. Rachel A. Ekery	Petitioner
The Dallas Morning News, Inc.	Mr. Paul C. Watler Mr. Wallace B. Jefferson Ms. Shannon Z. Teicher Ms. Rachel A. Ekery	Petitioner
Tatum, John	Mr. Joseph D. Sibley IV	Respondent
Tatum, Mary Ann	Mr. Joseph D. Sibley IV	Respondent

Amicus Curiae	Counsel
Texas Press Association	Mr. James A. Hemphill
Texas Association of Broadcasters	Mr. James A. Hemphill
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas	Mr. James A. Hemphill
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press	Mr. Russell Falconer Mr. Eugene Volokh
Chambers, Stephen	Mr. Stephen Chambers