Texas Governor Taps GOP Judges to New Business, Appeals Courts

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday announced his first two appointments to the state’s new business courts, as well as three justices to lead a new appeals court handling matters brought by the state or against it.

Abbott filled out the Austin division of the business courts with Patrick Sweeten, his office’s principal deputy general counsel, and Melissa Andrews, an equity partner at Holland & Knight, who previously served as an attorney for a Texas Supreme Court justice.

The legislature created the business court last year to help attract large corporations to the state by promising efficient resolutions to ...