Congratulations new Justices!

The Fifth Court has not changed gradually; its history since its 1893 founding turns on  a handful of significant changes in jurisdiction and size, most notably its expansion from six to twelve judges in 1981. One of those history-changing moments came yesterday, when voters elected eight new Justices, including a new Chief Justice. All of those new Justices are Democrats, elected to a court that has been all-Republican for many years, and creating a new Democratic majority on that Court. Every best wish to each of these new Justices as they now play their part in the history of the Fifth Court. (The Dallas Morning News provides an excellent, updated reference about these and other election returns that are not widely covered by other media.)