Supreme Court of Texas Blog

No. 22-0229
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IN RE GREG ABBOTT IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS; JAIME MASTERS IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES; AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on May 13, 2022. File Closed

Opinions

May 13, 2022

Blacklock
Hecht
Lehrmann
Boyd
Devine
Busby
Bland
Huddle

Justice Blacklock delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court as to Parts I and II. Justice Bland delivered the opinion of the Court as to Part III, in which Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Lehrmann, Justice Busby, and Justice Huddle joined. PDF

Blacklock
Boyd
Devine

Justice Blacklock delivered an opinion dissenting as to Part III, in which Justice Boyd and Justice Devine joined. PDF

Lehrmann

Justice Lehrmann delivered a concurring opinion. PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:3rd Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Grant
COA Docket No.:03-22-00126-CV
Opinion Author:Per Curiam

Trial Court

Trial Court:201st District Court
County:Travis
Trial Judge:Honorable Amy Clark-Meachum
Trial Docket:D-1-GN-22-000977

Entries on SCOTX Orders Lists

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2022-06-20 Certified cys of cost bill sent to attys of record  
2022-05-15 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2022-05-13 Opinion issued   Petition for writ of mandamus is conditionally granted in part
2022-05-13 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2022-05-13 Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposed Petition granted pursuant to TRAP 52.8(c)
2022-05-13 Motion to Stay Disposed   Filing dismissed as moot
2022-05-13 Concurring Opinion issued.   Issued
2022-05-13 Mandamus granted pursuant to TRAP 52.8
2022-05-13 Dissenting opinion issued.   Issued
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-08 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-07 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-07 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-07 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-07 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-04-01 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-04-01 Notice from Counsel of a change in address  
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-01 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-01 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2022-04-01 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-31 Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus (Relator)  
2022-03-31 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-03-30 Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed (Real Parties in Interest)  
2022-03-30 Phone call from Clerk's Office  
2022-03-30 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-30 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2022-03-29 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2022-03-25 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-03-25 Response to Motion filed  
2022-03-25 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2022-03-23 Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed (Relator)  
2022-03-23 Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  
2022-03-23 Motion to Stay Filed  
2022-03-23 Case Record Filed  

Parties

Party Counsel Role
Jane Doe, individually and as parent and next friend of Mary Doe, a minor
Ms. Anjana Samant
Mr. James D. Esseks
Camilla B. Taylor
Omar Gonzalez-Pagan
Chase Strangio
Karen L. Loewy
Ms. Kathleen L. Xu
Brandt Roessler
John Ormiston
Ms. Shelly L. Skeen
Savannah Kumar
Paul Castillo
Ms. Madeleine R. Dwertman
Nicholas Guillory
Mr. Derek R. McDonald
Andre Segura
Mr. David Goode
Nischay Bhan
Brian Klosterboer
Real Party In Interest
The Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas, Austin
 
Respondent
The Texas Department of Family And Protective Services
Mr. Brent Webster
Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr.
Ms. Natalie D. Thompson
Mr. Ryan Kercher
Mr. Judd E. Stone II
Mr. Christopher Hilton
Ms. Courtney B. Corbello
Relator
Jaime Masters in her Official Capacity of Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services
Mr. Ryan Kercher
Ms. Courtney B. Corbello
Mr. Judd E. Stone II
Ms. Natalie D. Thompson
Mr. Brent Webster
Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr.
Mr. Christopher Hilton
Relator
Greg Abbott in his Official Capacity as Governor of the State of Texas
Ms. Natalie D. Thompson
Mr. Judd E. Stone II
Mr. Brent Webster
Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr.
Mr. Ryan Kercher
Ms. Courtney B. Corbello
Mr. Christopher Hilton
Relator
John Doe, individually and as parent and next friend of Mary Doe, a minor
M. Currey Cook
John Ormiston
Brandt Roessler
Ms. Madeleine R. Dwertman
Paul Castillo
Andre Segura
Mr. Derek R. McDonald
Brian Klosterboer
Mr. David Goode
Nischay Bhan
Ms. Shelly L. Skeen
Savannah Kumar
Nicholas Guillory
Real Party In Interest
Mooney, Megan
Ms. Susan Cannon Kennedy
Brandt Roessler
John Ormiston
Nicholas Guillory
Ms. Shelly L. Skeen
Mr. David Goode
Andre Segura
Mr. Derek R. McDonald
Nischay Bhan
Paul Castillo
Brian Klosterboer
Ms. Madeleine R. Dwertman
Savannah Kumar
Real Party In Interest

Amici Curiae

Amicus Curiae Counsel
Beal, Ron
Mr. Ron Beal
Richie, Landon
 
Richie, Erika
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Brooke Granger
Lindsay Brett
Cassandra Mott
W., M.
J. Richard Hammett
Lindsay Brett
Cassandra Mott
Emily Nash
Brooke Granger
S., L.
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Brooke Granger
Cassandra Mott
Lindsay Brett
A., A.
Brooke Granger
J. Richard Hammett
Cassandra Mott
Lindsay Brett
Emily Nash
Richie, Aaron
Cassandra Mott
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Brooke Granger
Lindsay Brett
Bryant, Chet
Cassandra Mott
Emily Nash
Lindsay Brett
Brooke Granger
J. Richard Hammett
S., J.
Emily Nash
Lindsay Brett
J. Richard Hammett
Cassandra Mott
Brooke Granger
Bryant, Rebekah
Brooke Granger
Emily Nash
Cassandra Mott
J. Richard Hammett
Lindsay Brett
M., A.
Lindsay Brett
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Cassandra Mott
Brooke Granger
W., A.
 
W., C.
Brooke Granger
J. Richard Hammett
Lindsay Brett
Emily Nash
Cassandra Mott
Diaz, Edward
Lindsay Brett
J. Richard Hammett
Brooke Granger
Emily Nash
Cassandra Mott
S., T.
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Cassandra Mott
Brooke Granger
Lindsay Brett
Transgender Education Network of Texas
Mr. David Brown
Ms. M'Alyssa B. Mecenas
Brooke Granger
J. Richard Hammett
Emily Nash
Lindsay Brett
Cassandra Mott
American Academy of Pediatrics and Additional National and State Medical and Mental Health Organizations
Kyle Gardner
Mr. David Coale
Equality Texas
Lindsay Brett
Emily Nash
Brooke Granger
J. Richard Hammett
Cassandra Mott
Texas State Employees Union
Mr. Holt Lackey
Texas Medical Association
Ms. Kelly M. Walla
Mr. Donald P. Wilcox
Eamon J. Reilly
Current and Former Employees of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Mr. Holt Lackey
Social Current
Greg Wehrer
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Mary Kelly Persyn
iFoster
Mary Kelly Persyn
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Greg Wehrer
The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN)
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Greg Wehrer
Mary Kelly Persyn
The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
Mary Kelly Persyn
Greg Wehrer
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
Greg Wehrer
Mary Kelly Persyn
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Mary Kelly Persyn
Greg Wehrer
FosterClub
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Mary Kelly Persyn
Greg Wehrer
Futures Without Violence
Greg Wehrer
Mary Kelly Persyn
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Children’s Advocacy Institute
Mary Kelly Persyn
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Greg Wehrer
First Focus on Children
Rafael M. Langer-Osuna
Mary Kelly Persyn
Greg Wehrer
Beal, Ron
Mr. Ron Beal
...
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