Justice Misses Half of Texas Supreme Court Arguments to Campaign

Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine (R) hasn’t been present for an oral argument in more than half the cases the high court has heard since its current term began in September.

As the high court considered issues that will affect the lives of Texans—including cases over medical exceptions to Texas’ abortion ban and a law banning medicine for the purposes of children changing sexes—Devine was instead on the campaign trail. He has missed 28 of the 50 argued cases, only one the court signaled as a voluntary recusal.

On Thursday, he didn’t join other justices for arguments in El ...