Opinion ID: 44626
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Conclusively Established Standard

Text: 38 The governing standard, conclusively established, bears emphasis. Something is conclusive when, by virtue of reason, it put[s] an end to debate or question, usually because of its irrefutability. WEBSTER'S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY UNABRIDGED (2002). 16 Accordingly, Texas courts have explained that public records must leave no factual dispute concerning the conclusiveness of ineligibility. See In re Jackson, 14 S.W.3d 843, 848-49 (Tex.App.-Waco 2000, orig. pet.) (holding that a state actor under § 145.003 has no fact-finding authority; instead, she may administratively declare that a candidate is ineligible only when the record conclusively establishes the candidate's ineligibility) (emphasis in original); Culberson v. Palm, 451 S.W.2d 927, 929 (Tex.Civ.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1970, orig. pet.) (holding that ineligibility was not conclusively established where there remained a fact question). Thus refined, the issue is whether, based on the evidence properly before Benkiser on June 7, 2006, there remained a fact question as to whether DeLay would reside in Texas on election day, November 7, 2006. Palm, 451 S.W.2d at 929. 39 The intersection of § 145.003, which requires that proof of ineligibility be conclusive, and the Qualifications Clause, which requires inhabitancy only when elected, presents an extraordinary burden to declaring a candidate ineligible on residency grounds prior to the election. This is because it is almost always possible for a person to change their residency: to move to the state in question before the election, thereby satisfying the Qualifications Clause. 17 40