NOTE ON TEXAS CASE AT SCOTUS

Several months ago, the Episcopal Church petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for cert in its appeal of the Texas Supreme Court decision that found all in favor of the breakaway diocese of Fort Worth. On January 6, 2021, SCOTUS put TEC's request for cert on its docket for Conference of January 22. This morning, SCOTUS released all of its decisions from the Conference of the 22nd. Absent in the release was any mention of the church case from Texas. Apparently, in their meeting on the 22nd, the justices deferred a decision on TEC's request for cert. The next scheduled Conference is February 19. If the justices take up the matter then, the news of a decision would be released on Monday, February 22.

SCOTUS will either deny or grant cert. If they deny, the Texas Supreme Court stands as the final law. If they grant, SCOTUS will hear the case and either affirm or replace the Texas Supreme Court decision. This would be done probably by July of this year.

For more information, see Scotusblog .