How the current petition process works

The Texas Supreme Court is on the verge of eliminating the practice of requesting merits briefs before granting petitions for review—a change that will fundamentally reshape how the high court handles cases. In this deep dive into Misc. Docket No. 25-9092, hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders break down the proposed rule changes, which aim to make the process quicker, more efficient, and less costly for the parties. Todd takes listeners back to the era when every case bound for the Supreme Court required a full brief, a practice that ended in 1997 when the Court shifted to the petition-for-review process. Jody brings the conversation to the present by explaining the current procedure in a way that’s accessible to those who don’t regularly handle matters before the Court. Both hosts dissect the proposal to arm listeners with what they need to know before the new rules take effect in early 2026.

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