institutional reform litigation on Texas Appeals Journalhttps://texasappeals.org/topics/institutional-reform-litigation/Clinical descriptions of the Texas appellate decisions drawing the most press coverage.Hugo -- gohugo.ioen-usMon, 04 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600Fifth Circuit Reverses Contempt Fines in Texas Foster Care Case and Orders Reassignment to Another District Judgehttps://texasappeals.org/2024/11/md-v-abbott-foster-care-contempt-reassignment/Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600https://texasappeals.org/2024/11/md-v-abbott-foster-care-contempt-reassignment/A Fifth Circuit panel held that $100,000-per-day contempt fines against a Texas Health and Human Services Commission official were a criminal sanction imposed without the required protections and barred by state sovereign immunity, and that the state had substantially complied with the orders at issue. The court also directed that the foster care class action be reassigned to a different district judge.