Supreme Court

December 14, 2022 

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THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS
Orders Pronounced December 14, 2022
 
ORDERS ON CAUSES
THE FOLLOWING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS IS CONDITIONALLY GRANTED:
22-1121
IN RE ETHICON, INC. AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON; from Dallas County; 5th Court of Appeals District (05-22-01321-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 12-13-22)
 
 
Without hearing oral argument and having considered real party in interest’s response, we conditionally grant the petition for writ of mandamus and direct the trial court to vacate its oral order allowing jurors to appear remotely over relators’ objection. The trial court abused its discretion because section 4(a) of this Court’s Fifty-Seventh Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster provides that a court “must not require a lawyer, party, or juror to appear remotely, absent the agreement of the parties.” Misc. Docket No. 22-9097 (October 31, 2022). Our writ will issue only if the trial court does not comply. The stay issued December 14, 2022, is lifted.
MISCELLANEOUS
STAY ORDERS ARE ISSUED IN THE FOLLOWING PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS:
22-0322
IN RE STEVE SWARTZMAN, ANDY NORTH, AND LUCY DOAN; from Bexar County; 4th Court of Appeals District (04-21-00308-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 02-16-22)
 
relators' opposed emergency motion for temporary relief granted in part
stay order issued
 
[Note: The petition for writ of mandamus remains pending before this Court.]
 
22-1121
IN RE ETHICON, INC. AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON; from Dallas County; 5th Court of Appeals District (05-22-01321-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 12-13-22)
 
relators' emergency motion for temporary stay granted
stay order issued
 
[Note: The petition for writ of mandamus remains pending before this Court.]