SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 317

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 Whitener, 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.

Birdwell, Flores, Hall King, Kolkhorst, Schwertner

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 16, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate