Texas Supreme Court Tosses GOP Convention Lawsuit

Law & Crime reports:

On July 8 the mayor of Houston canceled the Texas Republican Party’s scheduled in-person convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Texas GOP promptly sued and eventually petitioned to the state’s Supreme Court, asking the court to order the enforcement of the contract that was signed. The GOP lost that bid on Monday.

The Texas Supreme Court declined to issue a writ of mandamus, which would have directed Houston First Corporation to perform legal obligations under the contract. The court cited a lack of jurisdiction in a narrow ruling.

As the court noted, Houston First, when terminating the convention agreement last week, “invoked a force majeure clause” (sometimes referred to as an “act of God” clause)—citing “the unprecedented scope and severity of the COVID-19 epidemic in Houston.”

The Texas Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Republican Party of Texas seeking to host its in-person convention this week in Houston. Justices also denied a similar petition spearheaded by other party officials and Houston activist Steve Hotze. https://t.co/ccxgljy7hm

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) July 13, 2020

Texas Supreme Court sides with Turner over Texas GOP https://t.co/HNmuMg8EFi

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) July 13, 2020

“Monday’s news effectively kills the party’s chances of holding its in-person gathering as planned, which was set to begin July 16 at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center.” https://t.co/UfV4ZmehT9

— David Gura (@davidgura) July 13, 2020