2023S0301-1 03/14/23
By: Birdwell, et al. S.R. No. 317
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize the Tenth Court of Appeals on the occasion of the
court's centennial; and
WHEREAS, In 1923, the Texas Legislature created the Tenth
Supreme Judicial District to be composed of 12 counties: Bosque,
Brazos, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Leon,
Limestone, Madison, McLennan, and Robertson; the legislature
added Johnson, Navarro, Somervell, and Hood Counties to the
district in 1927, removed Hood County in 1929, added Ellis County
in 1932, and added Burleson and Walker Counties in 2005; and
WHEREAS, The Court of Civil Appeals for the Tenth Supreme
Judicial District met for its first regular session on June 30,
1923, at the McLennan County Courthouse in Waco; the City of Waco
contracted with McLennan County to furnish the fourth floor of
its courthouse to house the Court of Civil Appeals, and the Waco
Law Library Corporation donated its books to become the court's
library; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, all Texas courts of civil appeals were
granted appellate criminal jurisdiction in cases that did not
involve capital punishment and were renamed courts of appeals;
and
WHEREAS, The title of Associate Justices was changed in
1985 to Justices, and in 1987 the Texas Legislature replaced all
references to Supreme Judicial Districts with Courts of Appeals
Districts; in 1991, the Tenth Court of Appeals was granted the
authority to sit in any county within its district; and
WHEREAS, Since 1923, when Governor Pat Neff appointed
Jesse Gallagher as the court's first chief justice, until today,
under the guidance of Chief Justice Thomas W. Gray, Justices Matt
Johnson and Steve Smith, and Court Clerk Nita Whitner, the Tenth
Court of Appeals has been dedicated to providing its district
with the protection of the law and the administration of justice;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby commend the distinguished justices and staff
who have served on the Tenth Court of Appeals during its 100 years
of existence and recognize the court's many contributions to the
rich history of jurisprudence in the State of Texas; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the Tenth Court of Appeals in honor of this special occasion.