Court Opinion

ID: 9762530
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:25:53.686595+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:53.685880
License: Public Domain

COOK, Justice,
dissenting.
I join the dissent but write separately. Rule 277 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure charges Texas trial courts with responsibility for submission of jury instructions. Tex.R.Civ.P. 277. Texas appellate courts have noted for some time that the rule allows a trial court considerable discretion in submitting those instructions. See Scott v. Houston Indep. School Dist., 641 *665S.W.2d 255, 257 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.). The rule respects the unique ability of the trial court to ascertain the facts and issues arising from the evidence presented by the parties in the particular case before the court. In close cases such as this one, we should retain respect for the discretion of Texas trial courts and allow them to fashion instructions that are suited to the cases before them.