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Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Texas

Composed of the chief justice and eight justices, the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the state. The Supreme Court is in Austin, immediately northwest of the state Capitol.

Supreme Court justices are elected to staggered six-year terms in statewide elections. When a vacancy arises the governor may appoint a Justice, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve the remainder of an unexpired term until the next general election. Justices must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years (see Texas Constitution, Art. 5, Sec. 2).

By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. Tex. Gov't Code § 81.011. The Court is also the sole authority for licensing attorneys in Texas and appoints the members of the Board of Law Examiners, which administers the Texas bar examination. Tex. Gov't Code §§ 82.00, 82.004.

The Court promulgates the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas Rules of Evidence and other rules and standards.

Final Approval to State Bar Rules Changes to Director, President-Elect Election Procedures

June 13, 2018

State Bar Rules Article IV Amendments Approved

Bar Exam Task Force Issues Report Calling for Adopting Uniform Bar Exam

May 16, 2018

In a report concluding nearly two years' work, the Texas Supreme Court’s task force to study the state bar examination has recommended that Texas employ the Uniform Bar Examination used by more than half the United States but not adopt a “diploma privilege” that would allow Texas law-school graduates to practice law without taking a bar exam.

Martha Greenhill Dies in Austin at 100

May 02, 2018

Martha Greenhill, who with unsurpassed grace fortified her husband Joe R. Greenhill's career as second-longest justice on the Texas Supreme Court and her own presence in the Austin community and society, died Wednesday in Austin at 100.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin.

New Mental Health Commissioners Appointed

April 13, 2018

Texas' two high courts, after approving a joint mental-health commission in February, have chosen the commission's 31 initial members for terms that begin immediately and extend through August 2020.

Commission to Address Mental Health Issues in Civil, Criminal Courts

February 15, 2018

The Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals jointly created the Judicial Commission on Mental Health on Tuesday, with Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Barbara Hervey and Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown initially serving as the commission’s co-chairs.