Abbott-appointed appeals court rules Dallas County Jail mental health case constitutional

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the state's creation of a new appeals court is constitutional, paving the way for a lawsuit brought by Dallas County against the state's health department to go before a court appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.

Dallas County sues The complaint was filed last year by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and accused the state agency of failing to admit incompetent inmates to state hospitals in a timely manner.

When a district court denied HHSC’s motion to dismiss the case, the state appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Travis County. But when the new 15. Court of Appeal When the court begins operations on September 1, all cases involving the state, as well as challenges to the constitutionality of state laws and appeals from business courts, must be transferred to the new court – including the Dallas County lawsuit.

The county objected, arguing that the existence of the 15th Circuit Court of Appeals was unconstitutional because it had jurisdiction over the entire state. The county also said it was unconstitutional that the court's new judges – recently appointed by Governor Greg Abbott — will take office as judges this year, but their offices will not be eligible for re-election until November 2026.

The Texas Supreme Court ruled that the existence of the new court was constitutional and that the transfer of the case must be carried out by Dallas County.

This is a developing story and will be updated.