Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 18, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.But as of the beginning of this month, corporations have access to nearly a dozen Texas courts created specifically for the purpose of settling major business cases as well as abacked by GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, a Big Oil ally tasked with handpicking the courts’ judges.
“The judges are appointed personally by the governor, with virtually no oversight from the legislative branch,” Schwenk wrote. “And they only serve two-year terms — in contrast toin Nevada — in theory making it easy for Abbott or a successor to quickly replace a judge who doesn’t rule in favor of his political interests.
“In addition to creating these courts, the legislature also passed H.B. 2627, the Death Star bill, that blocked cities and counties from creating local rules that are best for those communities, including on issues that concern public health, safety, and the environment,” said Shelley. “Just as state lawmakers view democratically elected city councils as standing in their way, especially in blue-leaning cities, they don’t want the courts checking their power.
“Voters have already chosen the judges they want to head the courts in their communities; Greg Abbott is rejecting that choice by creating new courts that launch with unelected judges he picked,” he continued. “These maneuvers are not only a threat to public health and the environment but also undemocratic.
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