Texas Republicans are about to create special courts for their corporate donors, letting Gov. Greg Abbott remove judges who deny donors favorable rulings. Big Oil is pushing the bill after the Supreme Court allowed climate cases in state courts.
Big Oil Tries To Buy Its Own Courts
https://www.levernews.com/big-oil-tries-to-buy-its-own-courts/
When Texas oil and gas companies need to remove a legal roadblock to drilling, or answer for alleged wrongdoing, they head to court — and a bill that could be considered by the state legislature as early as Thursday would hand them considerable sway in picking the judges that hear some of their cases.
The state’s $200 billion fossil-fuel industry has thrown its weight behind legislation that would create a new system of district courts to hear certain disputes involving corporations. While 26 states already have so-called business courts, the Texas proposal has a unique feature: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been bankrolled by fossil fuel donors, would have the power to personally appoint judges, who would then serve two-year terms — a tenure that would let Abbott quickly remove judges if they deny favorable rulings to his supporters.