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Group Releases Consumer Scorecard of
Texas Supreme Court Justices
Court Watch reviewed each of the 110 opinions issued by the Court during the 2005-2006 term, 69 of which are classified as consumer cases. Court Watch determined how often each justice sided with consumers. With just a 39% record of voting in favor of consumers, Justice Harriet O’Neill had the Court’s highest consumer score. Meanwhile, Justice Don Willett had the lowest rate with a miniscule 11%. The average pro-consumer score was a paltry 22%.
 Court Watch
a project of the
Texas Watch Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2006
Contact: Alex Winslow, 512-381-1111
TEXAS SUPREME COURT FAILS CONSUMERS
Group Releases Consumer Scorecard of
Texas Supreme Court Justices
AUSTIN – All nine justices on the Texas Supreme Court received an “F†on a new scorecard released today by Court Watch, a non-profit consumer project that monitors the state’s highest court.
“The Texas Supreme Court has failed
Texas families,†said Alex Winslow, Executive Director of the Texas Watch Foundation, which operates the Court Watch project. “Sadly, this is not surprising. The Texas Supreme Court has become a safe haven for corporate defendants seeking refuge from accountability.â€
Court Watch reviewed each of the 110 opinions issued by the Court during the 2005-2006 term, 69 of which are classified as consumer cases. Court Watch determined how often each justice sided with consumers. With just a 39% record of voting in favor of consumers, Justice Harriet O’Neill had the Court’s highest consumer score. Meanwhile, Justice Don Willett had the lowest rate with a miniscule 11%. The average pro-consumer score was a paltry 22%.
Winslow points out that it is not surprising that the Court would find in favor of insurance, medical, governmental, and other corporate interests over individual consumers. In the 10 years that Court Watch has been monitoring and reporting on the Court’s decisions, the Texas Supreme Court has consistently and overwhelmingly ruled against
Texas families.
“Year in and year out, the Texas Supreme Court distinguishes itself as an activist, pro-defendant Court,†said Winslow.
The report also found the following results:
- The Court ruled against consumers a whopping 84% of the time. This is the highest consumer loss rate in Court Watch’s 10-year history.
- The Court tied its highest defendant win rate at 82%.
- The Court voted in lockstep. With an average rate of agreement with the majority of 90%, the Court lacks any real dissenting voices.
- The Court overturned citizen juries in consumer cases a staggering 81% of the time.
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N. Alex Winslow
Executive Director
Texas Watch
1300 Guadalupe Street, Suite 108
Austin,
Texas
78701
512-381-1111
512-381-1115 fax
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www.TexasWatch.org
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