Smart-minded lawsuit reforms are widely credited with helping to create and retain jobs in Texas As the state marks the first anniversary of the creation of Texas’s new specialized business court and appeals court, the Texas Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the new Fifteenth Court of Appeals.

That’s positive news, ensuring these new specialized courts can continue to move forward, providing the type of consistency and clarity in large commercial cases that could help deliver faster resolution to lawsuits with fewer litigation costs.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed the inaugural judges to the new business courts in June, each of whom will be on the ballot for the first time in 2026.

Business-to-business cases and board governance matters will soon receive the expertise of specialized judges to hear these complex cases. By moving these complex cases to new courts, Texans will continue to have access to traditional civil courts for cases of personal injury, wrongful death, family law and other non-business matters.

Created by the Texas Legislature in 2023 with the passage of House Bill 19 and Senate Bill 1045 during the 88th Legislature, these new specialty courts will provide consistency and clarity in large commercial cases that should help deliver faster resolution to lawsuits with fewer litigation costs.

Did You Know?
The Fifteenth Court is the first new appellate court created by the Texas Legislature since the 1980s.

Did You Know?
While Gov. Abbott appointed the judges for the new specialty business courts, these judges will go before voters in 2026, a reminder that “good judges matter.”