With a reputation as one of the leading constitutional lawyers in Texas, it isn’t any surprise that firm partner Chad Baruch has been active in the recent constitutional litigation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chad served as lead counsel on two amicus curiae briefs in the Supreme Court of Texas related to the constitutional authority of the government to address a public health crisis.
The first case involves constitutional challenges by a Dallas salon owner held in contempt of court by a district court judge for violating orders relating to the business closure executive orders issued by Governor Greg Abbott, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. You can read that brief here.
The second case involves a challenge by various Houston-area individuals to the business closure orders issued by Governor Abbott. You can read that brief here.
Finally, Chad is serving as part of the appellate team in litigation challenging certain practices in the Dallas County Jail relating to prisoners vulnerable to COVID-19.
These cases follow closely on the heels of Chad’s work representing a group of former State Bar of Texas presidents in litigation challenging the mandatory bar in Texas. A federal district court judge in Austin recently dismissed that lawsuit, upholding the constitutionality of the mandatory bar.