Supreme Court

Case: 26-0423    
26-0423
04/30/2026
Petition for Writ of Mandamus
IN RE NEIL HESLIN, SCARLETT LEWIS, DAVID WHEELER, FRANCINE WHEELER, JACQUELINE BARDEN, MARK BARDEN, NICOLE HOCKLEY, IAN HOCKLEY, JENNIFER HENSEL, DONNA SOTO, CARLEE SOTO PARISI, CARLOS M. SOTO, JILLIAN SOTO-MARINO, WILLIAM ALDENBERG, WILLIAM SHERLACH, ROBERT PARKER, AND ERICA ASH 
 
Appellate Briefs
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Description▲▼RemarksDocument
08/17/2026Reply to Petition for Writ of MandamusRelator Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
07/13/2026Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus FiledReal Parties in Interest Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
05/19/2026Additional citations received.Relator Letter filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/01/2026Supplemental appendix Relator Supplemental Appendix filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/01/2026Supplement to Petition filedRelator Supplement to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
04/30/2026Appendix FiledRelator Appendix to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
04/30/2026Petition for Writ of Mandamus filedRelator Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
Case Events
Date▲▼Event Type▲▼Disposition▲▼RemarksDocument
09/09/2026Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposedDenied
08/17/2026Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposedFiling granted Motion for Extension of Time to file Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus is granted. Response was timely filed July 13, 2026.
08/17/2026Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus  Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
08/14/2026Motion for Extension of Time to File Response  Motion for Extension of Time to file Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
08/13/2026Electronic communication received from Party  Email received regarding pending response to mandamus.  Informed party that a motion for extension of time needs to be efiled as soon as possible.
07/13/2026Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed  Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
07/13/2026Electronic communication sent to Party  Email sent to real parties in interest attorneys regarding ordered response that was due on July 6, 2026. Informed attorneys that a motion for extension of time should accompany the response.
07/09/2026Call received  Call received regarding the status of the case.
06/05/2026Supreme Court of Texas Ordered Response  Court ordered response to petition for writ of mandamus due no later than July 6, 2026.
06/01/2026Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
05/27/2026Letter Filed  Letter filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
05/19/2026Additional citations received.  Letter filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/05/2026Case forwarded to Court 
05/04/2026Response to Motion filed  Response to Emergency Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
05/04/2026Call received  Call received from counsel for Real Party in Interest. Counsel intends to file response to Motion to Stay within the hour.
05/01/2026Supplemental appendix   Supplemental Appendix filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/01/2026Motion to Stay Filed   Emergency Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/01/2026Supplement to Petition filed  Supplement to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of David Wheeler, et al.
05/01/2026Call received  Call received from counsel regarding Mandamus.
04/30/2026Call received  Call received from NPR.
04/30/2026Response to Motion filed  Response to Emergency Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Free Speech Systems, LLC.
04/30/2026Call received  Call received from counsel for real party in interest regarding status of motion to stay.
04/30/2026Call received  Call received from real party in interest regarding status of motion to stay.
04/30/2026Call received  Call received from real party in interest.
04/30/2026Motion to Stay Filed   Relator's Emergency Motion for Temporary Relief filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
04/30/2026Call received  Call received from counsel regarding Petition.
04/30/2026Appendix Filed  Appendix to Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
04/30/2026Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed  Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed on behalf of Neil Heslin, et al.
04/30/2026Court reporter/recorder's record 
04/30/2026Clerk's Record 
Calendars
Set Date▲▼Calendar Type▲▼Reason Set▲▼Remarks▲▼
04/30/2026Motion being reviewed by CourtMotion to stay 
05/01/2026Motion being reviewed by CourtMotion to stayemergency motion for temporary relief
05/05/2026Work-Up by Staff / Review by JusticesUnder Review 
Parties
Party▲▼Party Type▲▼Representative▲▼
Hockley, NicoleRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Wheeler, DavidRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Hensel, JenniferRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Sherlach, WilliamRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Parker, RobertRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Barden, MarkRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Heslin, NeilRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Barden, JacquelineRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Milligan, Gregory S.Other interested party  
Lewis, ScarlettRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Soto, Carlos M.RelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Aldenberg, WilliamRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Third Court of Appeals, Austin, Texas Respondent 
Free Speech Systems, LLCReal Party in Interest William R. 'Trip' Nix III
Mr. Shelby A. Jordan
Mr. Alan B. Daughtry
Mr. Ben C. Broocks
Mr. Jose Ortiz
Mr. William Broocks
Soto-Marino, JillianRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Parisi, Carla SotoRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Soto, DonnaRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Hockley, IanRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Wheeler, FrancineRelatorMr. Benjamin David Evans
Mr. Ryan E. Chapple
Ash, EricaRelatorMr. Ryan E. Chapple
Mr. Benjamin David Evans
Court of Appeals Information:
 
 
3rd Court of Appeals 
 
Trial Court Information
459th District Court 
Travis 
Honorable Maya Guerra Gamble 
D-1-GN-18-001835