Texas Appellate Law Podcast Flipping the Script: How Texas Courts Can Improve Appellate Practice
Feb 26, 2026
They map practical court-side fixes to ease appellate practice in Texas. Topics include modernizing the civil docketing statement, reducing repetitive e-filing data entry, and standardizing sealed-record procedures. They discuss bringing back procedural transparency, creating a cross-appeal rule, and setting predictable clerk and reporter fees. The conversation also covers tiered case tracks, quicker rulings on unopposed motions, and clearer mandamus denials.
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Standardize Record Fee Estimates
- Push for standardized clerk and reporter fee structures or a formula to predict record costs for better client budgeting.
- Jody Sanders notes page and preparation rates vary across counties, sometimes causing surprise tens-of-thousands-dollar bills.
Adopt A Uniform Cross Appeal Rule
- Adopt a statewide cross-appeal rule to permit combined briefs and coordinated deadlines to reduce duplication and cost.
- Todd Smith suggests using local cross-appeal models that combine appellee and cross-appellant briefing and limit total briefs.
Make Supersedeas Premiums Recoverable
- Allow recovery of supersedeas bond premiums as taxable costs to deter excessive bonding litigation.
- Jody Sanders argues recoverable premiums would reduce satellite fights and reimburse appellants when judgments are reversed.