Supreme Court

Case: 24-0236    
24-0236
03/27/2024
Petition for Writ of Mandamus
IN RE WILLIAM W. GOTHARD, JR., AND INSTITUTE IN BASIC LIFE PRINCIPLES, INC. 
 
Appellate Briefs
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Description▲▼RemarksDocument
12/09/2025Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filedReal Parties in Interest Response to Amicus Brief filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
11/20/2025Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filedRelator Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
11/07/2025Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed) Supplement to Amicus Brief in Support of Rehearing received on behalf of Stanley Grant and Samuel Grant.  Submitted by Mr. Paul Craig Laird II with the Laird Law Firm of Irving, Texas.
11/05/2025Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed) Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Thomas More Society submitted by Christopher Galiardo of Thomas More Society of Chicago, Illinois.
11/05/2025Response to Motion for RehearingReal Parties in Interest Response to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt and Abigail Doty.
08/13/2025Motion for RehearingRefers to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
01/21/2025Brief on the MeritsRelator Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
12/23/2024Brief on the MeritsReal Parties in Interest Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
09/30/2024Brief on the MeritsRelator Relator's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
07/30/2024Amicus Curiae Brief receivedReceived (instead of filed) Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Stanley Grant and Samuel Grant submitted by Paul Craig Laird II of Laird Law Firm of Irving, Texas, et al.
06/27/2024Reply to Petition for Writ of MandamusRelator Reply to Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
06/03/2024Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus FiledReal Parties in Interest Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
03/27/2024Petition for Writ of Mandamus filedRelator Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
Case Events
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Disposition▲▼RemarksDocument
12/23/2025Case Stored  e-stored
12/23/2024Brief on the Merits  Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
12/19/2025Motion for Rehearing - DisposedDenied with Justice not sitting. (Justice Young not participating)
12/09/2025Response to Amicus Curiae Brief filed  Response to Amicus Brief filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
11/21/2024Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Second Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits is granted. Real Party in Interest's Brief is due December 23, 2024. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will not be considered. Reply brief is due January 7, 2025.
11/20/2025Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filed  Reply to Response to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
11/19/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Second Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief o the Merits filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
11/07/2025Amicus Curiae Brief received  Supplement to Amicus Brief in Support of Rehearing received on behalf of Stanley Grant and Samuel Grant.  Submitted by Mr. Paul Craig Laird II with the Laird Law Firm of Irving, Texas.
11/05/2025Response to Motion for Rehearing  Response to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt and Abigail Doty.
11/05/2025Amicus Curiae Brief received  Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Thomas More Society submitted by Christopher Galiardo of Thomas More Society of Chicago, Illinois.
10/18/2024Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Party in Interest's Brief on the Merits is granted. Real Party in Interest's Brief is due November 21, 2024. Relator's Reply Brief is due December 6, 2024. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored.
10/17/2024Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Real Parties in Interest's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
10/17/2024Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance of Counsel filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
10/01/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposedFiling granted Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Response to Motion for Rehearing granted. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored. Motion for Rehearing is due no later than November 5, 2025.
09/30/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Response  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Response to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
09/30/2024Brief on the Merits  Relator's Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
09/19/2025Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  Requested response to motion for rehearing due no later than October 6, 2025.
08/30/2024Brief on the Merits Ordered  Brief on the merits requested: Relator's brief due no later than September 30, 2024; Response brief due October 21, 2024; Reply brief due November 5, 2024.
08/19/2025Case forwarded to Court 
08/15/2025Response Waiver filed  Response Waiver to Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
08/13/2025Motion for Rehearing  Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
07/30/2024Amicus Curiae Brief received  Amicus Curiae Brief received on behalf of Stanley Grant and Samuel Grant submitted by Paul Craig Laird II of Laird Law Firm of Irving, Texas, et al.
07/11/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposedFiling granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Motion for Rehearing is granted. Motion for Rehearing is due August 13, 2025. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored.
07/11/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Motion for Rehearing filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
07/11/2025Notice of Appearance  Notice of Appearance of Additional Counsel filed on behalf of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, Inc.
06/27/2025Opinion dissenting to denial of petitionIssued Chief Justice Blacklock filed an opinion dissenting from the denial of the petition for writ of mandamus, in which Justice Devine and Justice Sullivan joined.
06/27/2025Motion to Stay DisposedFiling dismissed as moot Relators' Motion for Temporary Relief dismissed as moot
06/27/2025Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposedDenied with Justice not sitting. (Justice Young not participating)
(6/27/2025 5:21:03 PM) 240236d.pdf
06/27/2024Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus  Reply to Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
06/13/2024Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
06/10/2024Call received  Call received from counsel for relator regarding notice procedure.
06/03/2024Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed  Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
05/03/2024Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  Requested response to petition for writ of mandamus due no later than June 3, 2024.
04/02/2024Response Waiver filed  Response Waiver filed on behalf of Phoebe Merritt, et al.
04/02/2024Case forwarded to Court 
03/28/2024Motion to Stay Filed   Relator's Motion for Temporary Relief Seeking Stay of Proceedings filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
03/27/2024Case Record Filed   Mandamus Record filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
03/27/2024Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed  Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
01/21/2025Brief on the Merits  Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of William W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
01/06/2025Motion for Extension of Time disposed.Filing granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Relator's Reply Brief on the Merits is granted. Reply Brief is due no later than January 21, 2025. Further requests for extensions of time for this filing will be disfavored.  
01/03/2025Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Relator's Reply Brief on the Merits filed on behalf of Wiliam W. Gothard, Jr., et al.
Calendars
Set Date▲▼Calendar Type▲▼Reason Set▲▼Remarks▲▼
12/23/2025Case StoredCase stored.e-stored
Parties
Party▲▼Party Type▲▼Representative▲▼
Basic Life Principles, Inc.RelatorMr. John L. Ross
Mr. Kevin Giddens
Ms Jennifer Dechamplain Aufricht
Ms. Cassie J. Dallas
Mr. Charles Thomas Weigel Jr.
Ms. Courtney Haggett
Thomas More SocietyAmicus CuriaeMr. Christopher Galiardo
Fowler, J. DeanRespondent 
Merritt, PhoebeReal Party in Interest Mr. M. Keith Dollahite
Mr. T. Wesley Holmes
Mr. John Hull
Mr. J. Brent Goudarzi
Ms. Lauren Harbour
Mr. Keith L. Langston
Mr. Kirk L. Pittard
Mr. Marty L. Young
Stanley Grant and Samuel GrantAmicus CuriaeMr. Paul Craig Laird
Mr. Paul Smith
Doty, AbigailReal Party in Interest Mr. T. Wesley Holmes
Mr. John Hull
Mr. Keith L. Langston
Ms. Lauren Harbour
Mr. Kirk L. Pittard
Mr. Marty L. Young
Mr. J. Brent Goudarzi
Mr. M. Keith Dollahite
Gothard Jr., William W.RelatorMr. J. Shelby Sharpe
Court of Appeals Information:
Denied 
___ SW3d ___, 02-22-24 
12th Court of Appeals 
Honorable Brian Hoyle 
Trial Court Information
115th District Court 
Upshur 
Honorable Jerald Dean Fowler 
354-23