Court Opinion

ID: 9676724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:31:09.073691+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:50.516597
License: Public Domain

BURGESS, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with Chief Justice Walker’s opinion in all respects and write only to point out the procedural predicament of the Towers family. While they neither moved for recusal nor disqualification, they did urge the judge to continue the trial based upon expense factors. However, once Judge Floyd refused to recuse or deem himself disqualified, the Towers had no choice but to litigate their claims.1 They carried their burden of persuasion and received significant awards for their damages, only to now lose them. This result, while well founded and mandated in law, may understandably cause the Towers to lose confidence in the fairness and legitimacy of the judicial system. In consideration of the Towers’ position, I would tax costs solely against Quantum. Tex.R.App.P. 89.

. Unless the supreme court recognizes a waiver to disqualification, a rule allowing an interlocutory appeal is the only remedy. Whether such a rule is workable in a mid-trial situation is questionable.