ustxtxb_obs_2001_04_27_50_00024-00000_000.pdf

Petitions accepted: 30% 70% Petitions filed: 40% 60% 11% 89% exas is one of eight remaining states where Supreme Court candidates run for office in expensive, partisan campaigns that owe much of their funding to the lawyers and litigants who have business before these courts. According to a study done by Texans for Public Justice’s Court Reform Project, of the $12.8 million raised by Texas Supreme Court candidates from 1994 to 1998, 52 percent or $6.7 million came from litigants or attorneys seeking access to the court, which accepts only a small fraction of petitions each year. You’ve got to pay to play Campaign contributors accounted for only 40% of the petitions filed but 70% of the petitions accepted. Contributors Non-contributors ANNINIMPE., Texas justices are 10 times more likely to accept petitions filed by big donors than petitions filed by non contributors 60 50 40 30 20 10 More than $100,000 $10,000 $1,000 Less than $100,000 $10,000 $1,000 —!1.1111111170444;441011111111111111111116k44: , $100, 000 $250 000 Big-donor law firms do best Law firms and individual attorneys account for a large portion of the donations to judges. Those that give the most, have the most access. 60 446 50 40 in 30 20 -5 10 aR 0 More than $100,000 $10,000 $1,000 Less than $250,000 $250,000 $100,000 $10,000 $1,000 Access to the Supreme Court is highly restricted. From 1994 to 1998, only 11% of all appeals were heard by the court. 3,500 were rejected 442 were accepted Source: Texans for Public Justice Court Reform Project Kevin Krenec .11c,41%,15*.,91i;!hk.:0 BUYING THE JUDGE