Texas Chief Justice Gives State of Judiciary Address

At noon today, the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, the Honorable Nathan L. Hecht, gave the annual State of the Judiciary Address. While the Justice did not provide specifics, his comments indicate where the Texas judiciary sees itself going over the next year. Most notably, he revealed that the Texas judiciary plans to keep using remote platforms for proceedings, including all jury trials except for “complex civil matters” and felony cases. Under the Texas Supreme Court’s Emergency Order No. 36, courts may require, without the parties’ consent, that proceedings take place remotely. This authority extends to jury trials as well, save for felony cases. According to Justice Hecht, Texas district court judge, the Honorable Emily Miskel, conducted the nation’s first virtual jury trial last year; overall, thirty-five virtual trials have been conducted in Texas. The full State of the Judiciary Address can be accessed using this link: https://www.txcourts.gov/SOJ .