Texas Cases March 22, 2020: In re Sixth Emergency Order Regarding the Covid-19 State

Case Description

ORDERED that:

1. Governor Abbott has declared a state of disaster in all 254 counties in the State of Texas in response to the imminent threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. This Order supplements and does not replace or amend prior Emergency Orders Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster.

3. The Court's Order issued February 7, 2005, in Misc. Dkt. No. 05-9012, effectively allowed electronic voting in elections of the State Bar of Texas. Since then, voting in those elections has been both by electronic means and by paper ballot.

4. Because of uncertainty regarding the feasibility of handling paper ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 elections for presidents-elect and directors of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association must be conducted online only, by electronic vote, and not by paper ballot. The voting period is extended to May 29, 2020, at 5:00pm.

5. The order expires at the conclusion of the 2020 elections of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association unless extended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

6. The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to:

a. post a copy of this Order on www.txcourts.gov;

b. file a copy of this Order with the Secretary of State; and

c. send a copy of this Order to the Governor, the Attorney General, and each member of the Legislature.

7. The State Bar of Texas is directed to take all reasonable steps to notify members of the Texas bar of this Order.