Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to reflect the court’s addition of Brazoria County to the emergency order.
The Supreme Court of Texas has issued an emergency order authorizing the modification of deadlines in certain justice courts affected by Hurricane Beryl.
The order states that upon request by local judicial leaders and pursuant to Section 22.0035(b) of the Texas Government Code, justice courts in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda, and Montgomery counties that have been prevented from complying with a deadline in a civil case because the court’s normal operations have been disrupted by the disaster may:
a.) consider the disaster as good cause under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.5 for extending a time period in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or local rules, including appeal and new trial deadlines, until July 26, 2024; and
b.) postpone statutory deadlines until July 26, 2024, if the court finds that the postponement is necessary to facilitate the orderly resumption of the court’s normal operations.
Read the complete order here.
Sign up here to receive orders and other news directly from the Supreme Court of Texas.