Supreme Court

Case: 20-0434    
20-0434
05/29/2020
Mandamus/Cause
IN RE FACEBOOK, INC. AND FACEBOOK, INC. D/B/A INSTAGRAM 
 
Appellate Briefs
Date Event TypeDescriptionRemarksDocument
03/05/2021Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed)Amicus Curiae Brief of The Governor of Texas submitted by James P. Sullivan of The Office of the Governor in Austin, Texas.
02/23/2021Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed)Amicus Brief received from Alliance to Counter Online Crime and National Center on Sexual Exploitation.  Submitted by Kelly Coghlan with The Coghlan Law Firm, P.C. of Houston, Texas.
02/18/2021Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filedRelatorConsolidated Response to Texas's Amicus Brief and Plaintiffs' Letter Brief filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
02/02/2021Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed)Amicus Brief received from State of Texas. Submitted by Judd E. Stone II, Solicitor General.
09/21/2020Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed)Amicus Curiae Brief of the Internet Association submitted by Nina Cortell of Haynes and Boone, LLP of Dallas, Texas.
09/08/2020Reply BriefRelatorReply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
09/04/2020Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed)Amicus Brief received from Washington Legal Foundation submitted by Scott A. Keller and Jeremy Evan Maltz.
08/24/2020Brief on the MeritsReal Parties in Interest Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
08/03/2020Brief on the MeritsRelatorRelator's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc.
06/19/2020Reply to Petition for Writ of MandamusRelatorReply in Support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc.
06/16/2020Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus FiledReal Parties in Interest Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
05/29/2020Petition for Writ of Mandamus filedRelatorPetition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
Case Events
DateEvent TypeDispositionRemarksDocument
07/02/2021Motion to Stay Filed  Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of  Facebook, Inc., et al.
06/25/2021Stay Order lifted Stay order issued July 3, 2020 is lifted.
06/25/2021Opinion issuedPetition for writ of mandamus is conditionally granted in partThe Court denies in part and conditionally grants in part the writ of mandamus. Justice Blacklock delivered the opinion of the Court. (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
06/25/2021cause reinstated to active docket  
06/25/2021Abatement Order Lifted Abatement order issued in part, January 22, 2021, is lifted.
03/23/2021Status report filed Joint Status Report filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al. and Jane Doe.
03/05/2021Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Curiae Brief of The Governor of Texas submitted by James P. Sullivan of The Office of the Governor in Austin, Texas.
02/25/2021Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion of Resident Attorney Kelly Coghlan in support of D. Adam Candeub's Admission Pro Hac Vice granted.
02/25/2021Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice for D. Adam Candeub granted.
02/25/2021Electronic communication sent to Party Email sent to counsel for Alliance to Counter Online Crime and National Center on Sexual Exploitation regarding struck Motions for Pro Hac Vice Admission.
02/25/2021Pro hac vice motion filed Motion of Resident Attorney Kelly Coghlan in support of D. Adam Candeub's Admission Pro Hac Vice filed on behalf of Alliance to Counter Online Crime and National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
02/25/2021Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice for D. Adam Candeub filed on behalf of Alliance to Counter Online Crime and National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
02/24/2021Oral argument  Argued on behalf of Relators by Allyson N. Ho; Argued on behalf of Real Parties in Interest by Warren W. Harris; Argued on behalf of Amicus Curiae, State of Texas,  by Judd E. Stone II; Argued on behalf of Amicus Curiae, Washington Legal Foundation, by Scott A. Keller (Lehotsky Keller LLP), from Washington, DC.
02/23/2021Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Brief received from Alliance to Counter Online Crime and National Center on Sexual Exploitation.  Submitted by Kelly Coghlan with The Coghlan Law Firm, P.C. of Houston, Texas.
02/22/2021Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received Oral Argument Submission Form received. Argument will be presented by Judd E. Stone II of the Office of the Attorney General in Austin, Texas.
02/22/2021Submission Schedule  
02/19/2021Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received Oral Argument Submission Form received. Argument will be presented by Scott A. Keller of Lehotsky Keller LLP in Washington, DC.
02/18/2021Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filed Consolidated Response to Texas's Amicus Brief and Plaintiffs' Letter Brief filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
02/12/2021Motion to Argue disposedFiling grantedUnopposed Motion of Amicus Curiae, Washington Legal Foundation, to Participate in oral argument granted.  Time allotted to argue: 15/15/5/5 minutes (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
02/12/2021Motion to Argue disposedFiling grantedMotion of Amicus Curiae, The State of Texas, to Participate in Oral Argument   Time allotted to argue: 15/15/5/5 minutes (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
02/11/2021Motion to Argue filed Motion to Participate in Oral Argument filed on behalf of Washington Legal Foundation.
02/10/2021Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Anthony J. Moreno granted.
02/10/2021Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Anthony J. Moreno granted.
02/09/2021Pro hac vice motion filed Motion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Anthony J. Moreno filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
02/09/2021Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Anthony J. Moreno filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
02/04/2021Motion to Argue filed Motion to Participate in Oral Argument filed on behalf of State of Texas.
02/02/2021Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Brief received from State of Texas. Submitted by Judd E. Stone II, Solicitor General.
01/22/2021Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposedMatter in Supreme Court of Texas Abated 
01/22/2021Order of the Court IssuedMatter in Supreme Court of Texas AbatedThe cause is abated in part under Tex. R. APP. P. 7.2(b) for cases 2018-69816 & 2018-82214.  The case is not abated as to 2019-19262 and will proceed for all purposes including oral argument set for February 24, 2021. (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
01/14/2021Letter Filed Letter regarding Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 7.2 filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
01/11/2021Call received Call received from counsel for Real Party in Interest regarding notice.
01/08/2021Submission resetCase set for oral argumentThis cause has been reset for oral argument at 9:00 a.m., February 24, 2021. (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
12/31/2020Call received Call received regarding status of the Motion to Postpone.
12/31/2020Motion to postpone submission date disposedFiling grantedUnopposed Motion to Postpone Argument granted. The date and time for oral argument are yet to be determined.  (Justice Busby and Justice Huddle not participating)
12/30/2020Motion to postpone submission date filed Motion to Postpone Oral Argument filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
12/30/2020Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.Filing grantedMotion to Substitute granted.
12/30/2020Motion to Substitute filed Motion to Substitute filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
12/30/2020Submission Schedule Cause for 20-0434 has been postponed
12/09/2020Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received Oral Argument will be presented by Mr. Warren W. Harris with Bracewell LLP of Houston, Texas, filed on behalf of Jane Doe, et al.
12/09/2020Letter sent to parties from Supreme Court - See Remarks Letter sent to parties stating: "The Supreme Court of Texas set the above-referenced cause for oral submission for Thursday, January 7, 2021. Oral argument will be held via Zoom. Attached is a guide for attorneys participating in oral arguments via Zoom. The Clerk of the Court will contact you with further instructions.  If parties have not submitted an oral argument submission form at this time, please get it in no later than 9 a.m., December 11, 2020."
12/09/2020Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received Oral Argument Submission Form of Facebook, Inc., et al. received. Argument will be presented by Allyson N. Ho of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Dallas, Texas.
11/12/2020Letter Filed Letter regarding statement issued by Justice Thomas of the United States Supreme Court in Malwarebytes, Inc. v. Enigma Software Group USA, LLC filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
10/02/2020Case set for oral argumentCase set for oral argumentThis case has been set for oral argument at 9:00 a.m., January 7, 2021. Time allotted to argue: 20/20 minutes (Justice Busby not participating)
10/02/2020Mandamus Set to Argue  
10/02/2020Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposedCase set for oral argument 
09/21/2020Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Curiae Brief of the Internet Association submitted by Nina Cortell of Haynes and Boone, LLP of Dallas, Texas.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Matthew E. Vigeant granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Matthew E. Vigeant granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Ari Holtzblatt granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Ari Holtzblatt granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Patrick J. Carome granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Patrick J. Carome granted.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Patrick J. Carome filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Matthew E. Vigeant filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Ari Holtzblatt filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Matthew E. Vigeant filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Ari Holtzblatt filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/21/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Patrick J. Carome filed on behalf of the Internet Association.
09/08/2020Reply Brief Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
09/04/2020Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Brief received from Washington Legal Foundation submitted by Scott A. Keller and Jeremy Evan Maltz.
08/24/2020Brief on the Merits Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
08/03/2020Brief on the Merits Relator's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc.
07/03/2020Brief on the Merits Requested Brief on the merits requested:  Petitioner's brief due no later than August 3, 2020; Response brief due August 24, 2020; Reply brief due September 8, 2020.
07/03/2020Stay Order issued  
07/03/2020Motion to Stay DisposedFiling grantedMotion for Temporary Relief granted
06/19/2020Reply to Response to Motion Reply in Support of Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc.
06/19/2020Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Reply in Support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc.
06/16/2020Response to Motion filed Response to Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
06/16/2020Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Jane Doe.
06/01/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion in support of Admission Pro Hac Vice of Kristin A. Linsley granted.
06/01/2020Pro hac vice motion disposedFiling grantedMotion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Kristin A. Linsley granted.
06/01/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion in Support of Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice for Kristin A. Linsley.
06/01/2020Pro hac vice motion filed Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice for Kristin A. Linsley.
06/01/2020Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response Requested response to petition for review due no later than June 16, 2020.
05/29/2020Motion to Stay Filed  Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
05/29/2020Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
05/29/2020Case Record Filed  Mandamus Record filed on behalf of Facebook, Inc., et al.
Calendars
Set DateCalendar TypeReason SetRemarks
07/02/2021Motion being reviewed by CourtMotion to stay 
07/12/2021StatusMotion for rehearing due to be filed.  
Parties
PartyPartyTypeRepresentative
Washington Legal FoundationAmicus CuriaeJeremy Maltz
Mr. Scott Keller
Alliance to Counter Online CrimeAmicus CuriaeD. Adam Candeub
Mr. Kelly Jack Coghlan
National Center on Sexual ExploitationAmicus CuriaeD. Adam Candeub
Mr. Kelly Jack Coghlan
Facebook, Inc. and Facebook, Inc. d/b/a InstagramRelatorMr. Bradley G. Hubbard
Ms. Kelly S. Sandill
Mr. Scott A. Brister
Ms. Kristin A. Linsley
Mr. Anthony J. Moreno
Mr. Reagan W. Simpson
Mr. Collin Joe Cox
Ms. Allyson Newton Ho
Ms. Kathryn E. Boatman
Doe, JaneReal Party in Interest Mr. Warren W. Harris
Mr. Timothy F. Lee
Mr. David Echols Harris
Mr. L. Boyd Smith Jr.
Pamela McLemore
Mr. Michael T. Gallagher
Louie Cook
Ms. Annie McAdams
Ms. Michelle Rose Meriam Blair
Matthew Parmet
Ms. Margaret E. Bryant  
Internet AssociationAmicus CuriaeMr. Matthew E. Vigeant
Patrick J. Carome
Ari Holtzblatt
Ms. Nina Cortell
State of TexasAmicus CuriaeMr. Brent Webster
Mr. Kyle Highful
Mr. Bill Davis
Judd E. Stone II
Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr.
Abbott, Gregory Amicus CuriaeMr. Gregory Abbott
Mr. Jeffrey Oldham
Mr. James Sullivan
Court of Appeals Information:
"Denied" 
607 SW3d 839, 04-28-20 
14th Court of Appeals 
Honorable Per Curiam 
Trial Court Information
334th District Court 
Harris 
Honorable Steven E. Kirkland 
2018-69816; 2018-82214; 2019-16262 
 
 

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