jury trials – Opinions

Dec. 2, Shane Goodwin, associate dean and professor of practice at the Cox School of Business at SMU Dallas, for a commentary highlighting the profound impact the just-established Texas Business Court will have on corporate litigation. Published in the Dallas Morning News under the heading Texas Business Court is a bold experiment in corporate governance: https://tinyurl.com/yst92tdu

The just-established Texas Business Court represents more than just a judicial development, it marks a transformative moment for corporate governance in the United States.

With this bold initiative, Texas has positioned itself as a direct challenger to Delaware’s long-standing dominance in corporate litigation. As I explore in my paper, “The Lone Star Docket: How the Texas Business Court Will Shape the Corporate Landscape,” this court is currently operational in five of its 11 geographical divisions, including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.

The court is not merely about competing for corporate charters; it aims to redefine the framework and expectations of corporate governance for the 21st century, offering a vision that balances innovation, efficiency and accountability.

Continue reading “Texas Business Court is a bold experiment in corporate governance”

May 28, Anna Offit, associate professor at Dedman School of Law, SMU Dallas, for a piece acknowledging the necessity of videoconferencing technology during a pandemic for jury trials, but voicing concerns about the level of justice that might be lost in the process. Published in Inside Sources and affiliates: https://bit.ly/3cipBgF

It is essential that courts develop plans to adapt jury trials to our current public health crisis.

Thousands of defendants are currently in limbo around the country awaiting trial as COVID-19 has kept jurors out of court. The use of video technology to facilitate remote jury trials, however, must be implemented with caution.

At a time when virtual court proceedings are becoming the norm in North Texas, Collin County became the first in the United States to experiment with virtual jury trials last week. The judge who oversaw the county’s first non-binding summary jury trial commented in an interview that its success “showed us jurors can appear remotely.”

A move to virtual jury trials in the criminal context, however, carries risks that cannot be overlooked. . .

Continue reading “Technology Can’t Replace In-Person Jury Trials, but It May Help During a Pandemic”