Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman feels the need for speed

Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman (pictured) today issued her first signed opinion since she was sworn in on Oct. 8, 2009. Osler McCarthy, the Supreme Court’s spokesman, says the swiftness with which Guzman got the opinion out in Kelly, et al. v. General Interior Construction Inc. appears to be a record for a new justice, at least in the court’s modern era (since 2000). On Nov. 18, 2009, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Kelly, a case involving whether a Texas court has personal jurisdiction over two out-of-state defendants in a civil suit. The Supreme Court held that personal jurisdiction does not exist in this case. McCarthy says Guzman not only had to research the case and write the opinion, she had to get other justices to sign off on it. The decision in Kelly was unanimous. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Guzman, an eight-year veteran on Houston’s 14th Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy created by Scott Brister’s resignation. Guzman says, “I’ve made a commitment to work as diligently as I can.” Guzman also says she hopes that issuing opinions rapidly will be a trend she can continue.
-- Mary Alice Robbins