Court Opinion

ID: 9635932
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 14:10:32.379501+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:39.088076
License: Public Domain

DOGGETT, Justice,
concurring.
Although joining in today’s judgment, I write separately to express once again my concern regarding the unjustified delay in deciding this case. While a split of legal authority regarding even the single, narrow issue presented here necessitates careful review, the rather modest record together with briefing provided by the parties suggest that the sixteen-month lapse between argument and release of an opinion is too long. Such delay has a detrimental effect on both the parties and the process, as I noted in Delaney v. University of Houston, 835 S.W.2d 56, 61-62 (Tex.1992) (Doggett, J., concurring). I continue to assert that “justice delayed [has been] justice denied.”1
A dilatory resolution of the issue presented injects prolonged uncertainty into commercial litigation, with resulting unfairness to businesses instituting suits to enforce debts, as well as to debtors who seek to ensure the proper calculation of any claimed deficiency. The delay also “breaches the public’s trust in performing the duties of the judiciary in a timely and responsible manner.” Id. at 61.
As judges, our commitment should be to a legal system that provides litigants a just and timely resolution of their disputes. See Texas Supreme Court, Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3, pt. A(7) (“[a] judge should dispose promptly of the business of the court.”); Texas Lawyer’s Creed — A Mandate for Professionalism (adopted November 7, 1989) (a judge owes the public the same “diligence, candor [and] punctuality” that this Creed demands of lawyers”). Today these obligations take second place to the majority’s professed “traditions.” 835 S.W.2d at 61. As I wrote in Delaney:
In defense of this indefensible situation, it is urged that the “traditions” of this court are more important than the people to whom it is supposed to afford justice. 835 S.W.2d 56, 61 (per cu-riam). ... When the “traditions” of this court cannot produce expeditious and fair resolution of litigation, they must be changed.... Everyone would be better *178served by fewer excuses and more leadership in getting the important work of this court accomplished.
885 S.W.2d at 61.
What is unfortunate today is not my writing, nor even the majority’s defensive indignation, but the regrettable state of affairs when the court cannot perform its duties in a timely fashion.
MAUZY, J., joins in this concurring opinion.

. Carrollton-Farmers Branch Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Edgewood Indep. Sch. Dist., 826 S.W.2d 489, 489-90 n. 1 (Tex.1992) (Doggett, J., dissenting) (noting failure to release opinion forcing taxpayers to pay unconstitutional property taxes until the passage of several deadlines, including that for payment of taxes).