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TEXAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PRISCILLA OWEN

II. Owen’s Judicial Philosophy 

Justice Owen’s judicial philosophy can be discerned only through her written opinions. She has no known published articles, speeches or other writings. In more than seven years on the Texas Supreme Court, Owen has authored or joined dissents 87 times, while authoring just 48 majority opinions (ultra-conservative Justice Hecht authored many of the dissents that Owen joined). This section lists and then summarizes key cases that reflect Owen’s judicial philosophy.

A.   Listing of Selected Cases

1.  Contributor-Conflict Opinions

Opinions Owen Wrote
Concord Oil Co. v. Pennzoil, 966 S.W.2d 451 (Tex. 1998)
Enron v. Spring Independent School District, 922 S.W.2d 931 (Tex. 1996)
FM Properties Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868 (Tex. 2000)
GTE v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d 605 (Tex. 1999)
Gunn Infiniti, Inc. v. O’Byrne, 996 S.W.2d 854 (Tex. 1999)
Praesel v. Johnson, 967 S.W.2d 391 (Tex. 1998)
Provident American Insurance Co. v. Castaneda, 988 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Beason, 907 S.W.2d 430 (Tex. 1995)

Opinions Owen Joined
Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Inc v. Olivo, 952 S.W.2d 523 (Tex. 1997)
Dickinson Arms–Reo, L.P. v. Campbell, 35 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. 2000)
Grain Dealers Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKee, 943 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. 1997)
Haynes & Boone v. Bowser Bouldin, Ltd., 896 S.W.2d 179 (Tex. 1995)
H.E. Butt Grocery Co. v. Vinnie Bilotto, 985 S.W.2d 22 (Tex. 1998)
Peeler v. Hughes & Luce and Darrell C. Jordan, 909 S.W.2d 494 (Tex. 1995)
Saenz v. Fidelity Ins. Underwriters, 925 S.W.2d 607 (Tex. 1996)
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Simmons, 963 S.W.2d 42 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997)
Stringer v. Cendant Mortgage Corp, 23 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. 2000)
Texas Utilities Electric Co. v. Timmons, 947 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. 1997)
Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998)
Universe Life Insurance Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. 1997)
 

2.  Activist/Extremist Opinions

Opinions Owen Wrote
Concord Oil Co.v.Pennzoil, 966 S.W.2d 451 (Tex. 1998)
Ford Motor Co. v. Miles, 967 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. 1998)
FM Properties Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868 (Tex. 2000)
GTE v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d 605 (Tex. 1999)
Gunn Infiniti, Inc. v. O’Byrne, 996 S.W.2d 854 (Tex. 1999)
In re City of Georgetown, 53 S.W.3d 328 (Tex. 2001)
In re Jane Doe, (five opinions in 2000)19 S.W. 3d 249; (2) 19 S.W. 3d 278; (3) 19 S.W. 3d 300; (4) 19 S.W. 3d 337; (5) 19 S.W. 3d 346.
Johnson & Johnson Medical v. Sanchez, 924 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. 1996)
Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1997)
Mid-American Indemnity Insurance Co. v. King, 22 S.W.3d 321 (Tex. 1995)
Praesel v. Johnson, 967 S.W.2d 391 (Tex. 1998)
Provident American Insurance Co. v. Castaneda, 988 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. 1998)
Sonnier v. Chisholm-Ryder Co., Inc., 909 S.W.2d 475 (Tex. 1995)
State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Beaston, 907 S.W.2d 430 (Tex. 1995)
Stier v. Reading & Bates Corp., 922 S.W.2d 423 (Tex. 1999)

Opinions Owen Joined
Continental Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1996)
Dallas County Mental Health v. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d 339 (Tex. 1998)
Dickinson Arms–Reo, L.P. v. Campbell, 35 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. 2000)
Grain Dealers Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKee, 943 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. 1997)
Haynes & Boone v. Bowser Bouldin, Ltd., 896 S.W.2d 179 (Tex. 1995)
Lozano v. Lozano, 52 S.W.3d 141 (Tex. 2001)
Operation Rescue v. Planned Parenthood, 975 S.W. 2d 546 (Tex. 1998)
Read v. The Scott Fetzer Co., 990 S.W.2d 732 (Tex. 1998)
Saenz v. Fidelity Ins. Underwriters, 925 S.W.2d 607 (Tex. 1996)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Hosp. v. Agbor, 952 S.W. 2d 503 (Tex. 1997)
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Simmons, 963 S.W.2d 42 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997)
Stringer v. Cendant Mortgage Corp, 23 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. 2000)
Texas Utilities Electric Co. v. Timmons, 947 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. 1997)
Universe Life Insurance Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. 1997)
 

3.  Anti-Consumer Opinions

Opinions Owen Wrote
City of McAllen v. De La Garza, 898 S.W. 2d 809 (Tex. 1995)
Enron v. Spring Independent School District, 922 S.W.2d 931 (Tex. 1996)
Ford Motor Co. v. Miles, 967 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. 1998)
FM Properties Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868 (Tex. 2000)
GTE v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d 605 (Tex. 1999)
Gunn Infiniti, Inc. v. O’Byrne, 996 S.W.2d 854 (Tex. 1999)
In re City of Georgetown, 53 S.W.3d 328 (Tex. 2001)
In re Jane Doe, (five opinions in 2000)19 S.W. 3d 249; (2) 19 S.W. 3d 278; (3) 19 S.W. 3d 300; (4) 19 S.W. 3d 337; (5) 19 S.W. 3d 346.
Johnson & Johnson Medical v. Sanchez, 924 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. 1996)
Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1997)
Mid-American Indemnity Insurance Co. v. King, 22 S.W.3d 321 (Tex. 1995)
Praesel v. Johnson, 967 S.W.2d 391 (Tex. 1998)
Provident American Insurance Co. v. Castaneda, 988 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. 1998)
Sonnier v. Chisholm-Ryder Co., Inc., 909 S.W.2d 475 (Tex. 1995)
State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Beason, 907 S.W.2d 430 (Tex. 1995)

Opinions Owen Joined
Dickinson Arms–Reo, L.P. v. Campbell, 35 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. 2000)
Grain Dealers Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKee, 943 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. 1997)
Haynes & Boone v. Bowser Bouldin, Ltd., 896 S.W.2d 179 (Tex. 1995)
H.E. Butt Grocery Co. v. Vinnie Bilotto, 985 S.W.2d 22 (Tex. 1998)
Hernandez v. Tokai Corporation, 2 S.W.3d 251 (Tex. 1999)
Kerville State Hosp. v. Clark, 923 S.W.2d 582 (Tex. 1996)
Operation Rescue v. Planned Parenthood, 975 S.W. 2d 546 (Tex. 1998)
Peeler v. Hughes & Luce and Darrell C. Jordan, 909 S.W.2d 494 (Tex. 1995)
Read v. The Scott Fetzer Co., 990 S.W.2d 732 (Tex. 1998)
Saenz v. Fidelity Ins. Underwriters, 925 S.W.2d 607 (Tex. 1996)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Hosp. v. Agbor, 952 S.W. 2d 503 (Tex. 1997)
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Simmons, 963 S.W.2d 42 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997)
Stringer v. Cendant Mortgage Corp, 23 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. 2000)
Texas Utilities Electric Co. v. Timmons, 947 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. 1997)
Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998)
Universe Life Insurance Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. 1997)

4.  Anti-Jury Opinions

Opinions Owen Wrote
City of McAllen v. De La Garza, 898 S.W. 2d 809 (Tex. 1995)
Concord Oil Co. v. Pennzoil, 966 S.W.2d 451 (Tex. 1998)
Ford Motor Co. v. Miles, 967 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. 1998)
Gunn Infiniti, Inc. v. O’Byrne, 996 S.W.2d 854 (Tex. 1999)
Johnson & Johnson Medical v. Sanchez, 924 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. 1996)
Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1997)
Praesel v. Johnson, 967 S.W.2d 391 (Tex. 1998)
Provident American Insurance Co. v. Castaneda, 988 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Beaston, 907 S.W.2d 430 (Tex. 1995)

Opinions Owen Joined
Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Inc v. Olivo, 952 S.W.2d 523 (Tex. 1997)
Continental Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1996)
Dallas County Mental Health v. Bossley, 968 S.W.2d 339 (Tex. 1998)
Dickinson Arms–Reo, L.P. v. Campbell, 35 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. 2000)
Grain Dealers Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKee, 943 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. 1997)
Haynes & Boone v. Bowser Bouldin, Ltd., 896 S.W.2d 179 (Tex. 1995)
H.E. Butt Grocery Co. v. Vinnie Bilotto, 985 S.W.2d 22 (Tex. 1998)
Hernandez v. Tokai Corporation, 2 S.W.3d 251 (Tex. 1999)
Kerville State Hosp. v. Clark, 923 S.W.2d 582 (Tex. 1999)
Lozano v. Lozano, 52 S.W.3d 141 (Tex. 2001)
Read v. The Scott Fetzer Co., 990 S.W.2d 732 (Tex. 1998)
Saenz v. Fidelity Ins. Underwriters, 925 S.W.2d 607 (Tex. 1996)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Hosp. v. Agbor, 952 S.W. 2d 503 (Tex. 1997)
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Simmons, 963 S.W.2d 42 (Tex. 1998)
State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997)
Texas Utilities Electric Co. v. Timmons, 947 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. 1997)
Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998)
Universe Life Insurance Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. 1997)
 
 


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