Supreme Court of Texas Blog

No. 23-0703
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SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY AND PAUL J. WARD v. SOUTH CENTRAL JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND BISHOP SCOTT JONES

Oral argument was held on January 15, 2025. The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on June 27, 2025. File Closed

Opinions

June 27, 2025

Lehrmann
Boyd
Devine
Blacklock
Busby
Bland
Huddle
Young
Sullivan

Justice Lehrmann delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Blacklock, Justice Boyd, Justice Devine, Justice Busby, Justice Huddle, Justice Young, and Justice Sullivan joined in full, and in which Justice Bland joined except as to Part IV(B). PDF

Bland

Justice Bland filed an opinion dissenting in part.View Electronic Briefs | Oral Argument PDF

Young
Devine
Blacklock
Sullivan

Justice Young filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Devine and Justice Sullivan joined in full, and in which Chief Justice Blacklock joined as to Parts I, III, and IV. PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:5th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Aff/Pt and Rev & Rem/Pt
COA Docket No.:05-21-00151-CV
Opinion Author:Honorable Bonnie Lee Goldstein

Trial Court

Trial Court:162nd District Court
County:Dallas
Trial Judge:Honorable Maricela Breedlove
Trial Docket:DC-19-19359

Entries on SCOTX Orders Lists

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2025-08-07 Mandate issued  
2025-06-27 Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record Issued
2025-06-27 Opinion issued   Court affirms in part and reverses in part CA judgment and remands to trial court
2025-06-27 Concurring Opinion issued.   Issued
2025-06-27 Dissenting opinion issued.   Issued
  This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between March 10, 2025 and June 27, 2025.  
2025-03-10 Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filed (Amicus Curiae)  
2025-03-07 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2025-01-31 Letter Filed  
2025-01-22 Post submission brief filed (Petitioner)  
2025-01-15 Oral argument  
2025-01-13 Exhibits in case/cause filed (Respondent)  
2025-01-03 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2025-01-03 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2025-01-02 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2025-01-02 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2025-01-02 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2024-12-27 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2024-12-27 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2024-11-26 Call received  
2024-10-18 Petition for Review disposed Filing granted
2024-10-18 Petition for Review granted
2024-10-18 Case set for oral argument   Case set for oral argument
  This case was pending on merits briefs between August 26, 2024 and October 18, 2024.  
2024-08-26 Brief on the Merits  
2024-07-18 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-07-18 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-07-11 Brief on the Merits (Respondent)  
2024-06-13 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-06-13 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-06-07 Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)  
2024-04-25 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-04-25 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-04-04 Letter Filed  
2024-03-28 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-03-28 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-03-08 Brief on the Merits Requested  
2024-01-23 Case forwarded to Court
2024-01-16 Reply to Response to Petition filed (Petitioner)  
2023-12-05 MET to file reply disposed of   Filing granted
2023-12-04 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2023-12-04 Motion to Extend Time to File Reply filed  
2023-11-29 Response to Petition (Respondent)  
2023-11-10 Petition for Review (Petitioner)  
2023-09-28 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2023-09-28 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2023-08-30 Court reporter/recorder's record
2023-08-30 Clerk's Record
2023-08-30 Court reporter/recorder's record
2023-08-30 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2023-08-30 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2023-08-30 Clerk's Record

Parties

Party Counsel Role
South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church
Ms. Alexandra Wahl
Mr. Jeffrey R. Parsons
Mr. Sawnie A. McEntire
Jarod Bonine
Respondent
Jones, Bishop Scott
Mr. Vidal G. Martinez
Ms. Amanda Eileen Staine Peterson
Respondent
Southern Methodist University and Paul J. Ward
Ms. Emily Alice Cardone
Ms. Allyson N. Ho
Mr. Joseph Barakat
Mr. William B. Dawson
Mr. Scott Hvidt
Ms. Elizabeth Kiernan
Veronica Smith Moyé
Petitioner

Amici Curiae

Amicus Curiae Counsel
First Liberty Institute
Mr. Kelly J. Shackelford
Mr. Jeffrey C. Mateer
Mr. Hiram S. Sasser III
Mr. David Hacker
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Mr. Eric Christopher Rassbach
Mr. William J. Haun
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