In a significant pro bono appellate victory, Jackson Walker secured a reversal and render in the Supreme Court of Texas in favor of a mother whose parental rights to her three children had been terminated.

After adverse rulings in the trial court and court of appeals, the mother’s original appellate counsel filed an Anders petition, which means the attorney saw no appealable issues.  The Supreme Court nevertheless ordered briefs on the merits and asked for pro bono representation for the mother. After briefs on the merits—principally drafted by appellate associate, Cody Lee Vaughn, assisted by of counsel Peter Hansen—the Court set oral argument. Cody argued the case. Several Jackson Walker attorneys dedicated significant time to moots for preparing Cody for argument.

Ultimately, the Court preserved the mother’s parental rights, holding that the evidence was legally insufficient to support that termination as to her was in the children’s best interests, and then rendering judgment in her favor. In doing so, the Court emphasized the heightened legal standards required in parental termination cases and the fundamental nature of the rights at issue.

Meet Jackson Walker

Founded in 1887, Jackson Walker continues to advance the world of business by helping companies of all sizes navigate today’s increasingly complex legal landscape. With more than 500 attorneys across six offices, we are the largest law firm in the state and have been recognized by Law360 as a “Texas Powerhouse” and an “elite law firm” that regularly provides counsel to industry-leading clients. Our dedicated Pro Bono program provides support for attorneys’ pro bono efforts both in terms of legal service and financial support. We are proud of the fact that the Firm spends more than 6,000 hours on pro bono causes every year. To explore our efforts to help ensure equal access to justice, visit our Pro Bono page.