Texas Court Backlog Could Last Five Years Without More Funding

Top brass in the Texas judiciary are telling Austin lawmakers they should hire retired judges and continue virtual court sessions or run the risk of the pandemic case backlog lasting until 2026.

“We have done the math and without additional resources —through extra judges to assist and things like that— we do anticipate it will take us anywhere from three to five years to dig out,” David Slayton, director of administration for the Texas courts, said in a telephone interview.

Slayton, who’s also executive director of the Texas Judicial Council, said the state has conducted on average four jury trials ...