What is an Amicus Curiae?

Amicus Curiae is Latin for "Friend of the Court."

Amicus Curiae or Friend of the Court Briefs are submitted by
interested individuals or organizations in appeals in which they are not
parties, but take a position on one (or several) of the issues presented.

Amicus Curiae briefs make the court aware of arguments and concerns
that may not be raised by the litigants, and give appellate judges an
opportunity to better assess the significance of a case, and the likely
impact of their decision on society.

Amicus participation can also play a key role in persuading those courts
that exercise discretionary review to hear a case. The U.S. Supreme
Court and the states' highest courts are highly selective in choosing
which cases to hear.

AMICUS BRIEFS SUBMITTED IN 2005 TEXAS SUPREME COURT CASES

05-0126                       PETITIONER:        THE CITY OF ROCKWALL, TEXAS
                                RESPONDENT:     HUGHES, ET AL.
         
05012601.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of T.M.L. & T.C.A.A. - Received: 07/07/2005
05012602.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of City of Fort Worth - Received: 07/28/2005
05012606.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief on the Merits of Brian D. Shannon - Received: 10/06/2005
05012608.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of City of Denton - Received: 03/22/2005
05012609.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of City of Fate - Received: 10/10/2005
05012610.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of Texas Assoc. of Builders - Received: 12/20/2005
05012611.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of City of Fort Worth - Received: 03/18/2005
05012612.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of City of Pearland - Received: 04/21/2005
05012613.pdf                Amicus Curiae Letter of Texas Municipal League & Texas City Attorney's Assoc. 04/04/2005
         
05-0466                       PETITIONER:       COASTAL OIL & GAS CORPORATION AND COASTAL OIL & GAS USA, L.P.
                                RESPONDENT:    GARZA ENERGY TRUST, ET AL.
         
05046602.pdf                TXGLO - Amicus Curiae Letter - Received: 07/05/2005
05046603.pdf                TXOGA - Amicus Curiae Letter - Received: 07/08/2005
05046604.pdf                IPAG - Amicus Curiae Letter - Received: 07/18/2005
05046605.pdf                CO&G - Amicus Curiae Letter - Received: 08/19/2005
05046606.pdf                TIPRO - Amicus Curiae Letter - Received: 09/07/2005
05046608.pdf                TIPRO and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers - Amicus Curiae Brief - Received: 11/28/2005
         
05-0598                       IN RE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION
         
05059801.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of Union Carbide - Received: 10/05/2005

      
05-0832                       APPELLANT:      LAMAR HOMES, INC.
                                APPELLEE:        MID CONTINENT CASUALTY COMPANY
         
05083203.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of Complex Ins. Claims Litigation Assoc. - Received: 01/17/2006

         
05-0078                      PETITIONER:        CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
                               RESPONDENT:     PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS, ET AL.
         
05007803.pdf                Amicus Curiae Brief of Cities Served by AEP Texas Central Co. - Received: 05/06/2005


05-0086                      IN RE LIVING CENTERS OF TEXAS, INC./PASADENA CARE CENTER
         
05008603.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief of AARP & NCCNHR - Received: 04/05/2005

05-0108                      PETITIONER:     DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY HEALTH SERVICES OF WACO, ET AL.
                               RESPONDENT:  LINNSTAEDTER, ET AL.

05010805.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief of TX Mutual Ins. Co. - Received: 01/03/2006

         
05-0132                      PETITIONER:    UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS "USAA"
                               RESPONDENT: JAMES STEVEN BRITE
          
05013204.pdf               TELC - Amicus Curiae Brief - Received: 05/02/2005
05013205.pdf               TAB - Amicus Curiae Brief - Received: 06/07/2005

         
05-0171                      PETITIONER:        SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, L.P. D/B/A SBC TEXAS
                               RESPONDENT:      MITCHELL, ET AL.
         
05017103.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief of Texas Mutual Ins. Co. - Received: 07/14/2005
05017105.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief on the Merits of TX Mutual Ins. and Edwards Risk Mgmt.  11/07/2005

         
05-0189                      PETITIONER:        BORG-WARNER CORPORATION, ET AL.
                               RESPONDENT:     FLORES
         
05018902.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief of Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. - Received: 05/23/2005
05018904.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief on the Merits of the Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. - Received: 12/07/2005


05-0202                     PETITIONER:        ENERGY SERVICE COMPANY OF BOWIE, INC.
                              RESPONDENT:     SUPERIOR SNUBBING SERVICES, INC.
         
05020201.pdf              TXOGA - Amicus Curiae Brief - Received: 09/15/2005

         
05-0832                      APPELLANT:      LAMAR HOMES, INC.
                               APPELLEE:        MID CONTINENT CASUALTY COMPANY
         
05083203.pdf               Amicus Curiae Brief of Complex Ins. Claims Litigation Assoc. - Received: 01/17/2006

To see Amicus Briefs by the Faculty Rights
Coalition click on the cases below:

State Auditor's Office v. Mora-Nichols
Issue: First Amendment  & retaliation
     in the public employment context

Freedman v. University of Houston
Issue: Sovereign immunity
      
Nance v. Evadale ISD
Issue: Timeliness of appeal, Interpretation of
    Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 306a

Amicus
Curiae
Briefs