Texas boosts oil-friendly courts to safeguard industry interests

On September 1, Texas will open new business courts, heavily influenced by Big Oil, with judges handpicked by Governor Greg Abbott, many of whom have deep ties to the fossil fuel industry.

Katya Schwenk reports for The Lever.

In short:

• Texas’ new business courts will handle corporate cases, with judges selected by Governor Abbott, many of whom have histories defending fossil fuel companies.
• The courts, designed with little oversight, have been criticized for favoring industry interests, particularly in environmental cases.
• Environmental cases previously heard by more liberal courts will now be overseen by these conservative, industry-friendly judges.

Key quote:

“Greg Abbott created a boutique court for corporations where he, not the voters, gets to pick the judges.”

— Adrian Shelley, director of Public Citizen Texas.

Why this matters:

This move is a direct strike at environmental and public health advocacy. In a state where fossil fuel dominance is already crushing the push for green energy and stricter regulations, this court is poised to silence dissenting voices even further. Read more: ExxonMobil, LyondellBassel and Chevron among Houston’s top polluters.