Supreme Court of Texas Blog

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

Oral argument was held on November 8, 2017. The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on June 29, 2018. It then denied rehearing on December 21, 2018 File Closed

Opinions

December 21, 2018

Brown
Hecht
Green
Guzman
Devine

The Court's opinion issued June 29, 2018 is corrected. The dissenting opinion by Justice Boyd, in which Justice Johnson and Justice Lehrmann joined, remains in place. PDF

June 29, 2018

Boyd
Johnson
Lehrmann

Justice Boyd delivered a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Johnson and Justice Lehrmann joined. PDF

Withdrawn Opinions

The opinions below have been withdrawn by order of the Court.

June 29, 2018

Brown
Hecht
Green
Guzman
Devine

Justice Brown delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Green, Justice Guzman, and Justice Devine joined. PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:10th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Reverse & Remand
COA Docket No.:10-15-00105-CV
Opinion Author:Honorable Thomas W. Gray

Trial Court

Trial Court:249th District Court
County:Somervell
Trial Judge:Honorable Charles C. Cooke
Trial Docket:C10369

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2018-12-21 Mandate issued  
2018-12-21 Motion for Rehearing - Disposed Denied
2018-12-21 Corrected opinion   Issued
2018-12-03 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2018-11-05 Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filed (Petitioner)  
2018-10-09 Supplement to Amicus Curiae  
2018-09-11 Notice of Appearance  
2018-09-11 Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filed (Respondent)  
2018-08-23 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2018-07-26 Response to Motion for Rehearing (Respondent)  
2018-07-16 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2018-07-11 Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  
2018-07-10 Motion for Rehearing  
2018-07-10 Case forwarded to Court
2018-06-29 Dissenting opinion issued.   Issued
2018-06-29 Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record Issued
2018-06-29 Opinion issued   Court of appeals' judgment affirmed
  This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between December 28, 2017 and June 29, 2018.  
2017-12-28 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2017-11-29 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2017-11-20 Response to Brief filed (Petitioner)  
2017-11-17 Post submission brief filed (Respondent)  
2017-11-16 Amended Brief filed (Petitioner)  
2017-11-15 Post submission brief filed (Petitioner)  
2017-11-10 Call received  
2017-11-08 Oral argument  
2017-11-08 Submission Schedule  
  This case was waiting for oral argument between September 15, 2017 and November 8, 2017.  
2017-09-15 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2017-09-09 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
  This case was waiting for oral argument between June 30, 2017 and September 9, 2017.  
2017-06-30 Case set for oral argument   Case set for oral argument
2017-06-23 Petition for Review granted
2017-06-23 Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
  This case was pending on merits briefs between March 14, 2017 and June 23, 2017.  
2017-03-14 Letter Filed  
2017-03-13 Brief on the Merits (Respondent)  
2017-02-21 Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)  
2017-02-02 Motion to dismiss disposed   Denied
2017-01-25 Case Record Filed  
2017-01-23 Record Requested in Petition for Review  
2017-01-20 Brief on the Merits Requested  
2016-12-12 Response to Motion filed  
2016-12-05 Response to Petition (Respondent)  
2016-12-05 Motion to dismiss  
2016-11-04 Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  
2016-10-04 Case forwarded to Court
2016-09-28 Response Waiver filed  
2016-09-27 Petition for Review (Petitioner)  
2016-08-29 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2016-08-26 Amendment to Motion filed  
2016-08-26 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2016-08-26 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  

Parties

Party Counsel Role
State of Texas
Mr. Andrew W. Lucas
Mr. C. Alfred Mackenzie
Petitioner
Harper, Paul Reed
Mr. Christopher A. Brown
Ms. Mary H. Barkley
Respondent
Texas Attorney General’s Office
Ms. Angela V. Colmenero
Mr. Cleve Doty
Ms. Nichole Beth Bunker-Henderson
Mr. Brantley D. Starr
Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr.
Mr. James E. Davis
Mr. Jeffrey C. Mateer
Mr. Jason R. LaFond
Mr. Kyle D. Hawkins
Other Interested Party

Amici Curiae

Amicus Curiae Counsel
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
Mr. Joseph R. Larsen
Cowart, Thomas B.
Mr. Thomas B. 'Tom' Cowart
Texas Right to Life Committee
Ms. Emily Kebodeaux Cook
Mr. Tony McDonald
Empower Texans
Mr. Tony McDonald
Ms. Emily Kebodeaux Cook
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