Dallas Morning News: Our recommendation for Texas Supreme Court, Place 8: Brett Busby

Our endorsement goes to Busby because of his sturdy commitment to textualism.

Busby, 47, is the incumbent, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in February of last year. Before that, he served on the 14th Court of Appeals for seven years. In 2018, he was named the Appellate Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. He has served as a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court and later argued a case in that court. And he has chaired the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Rules and Legislation Committee, which helps ensure access to legal services for Texans of limited means. Beyond those qualifications, it’s worth noting that Busby’s appointment was confirmed unanimously by the Texas Senate, showing the respect he holds on both sides of the political aisle.

Busby’s judgments hew pretty closely to the original language of the law. “The words used and the sense in which they were understood at the time they were adopted are particularly important,” he wrote in our Voter Guide.

We like Busby for his textualism and bipartisan support.

Houston Chronicle: We recommend Busby for the Texas Supreme Court

We recommend Justice Brett Busby, 47, for his expertise in appellate law and the respect he has earned from his peers. He served on Houston’s 14th Court of Appeals from 2012 to 2018… In 2019, the governor appointed Busby to the Supreme Court Seat 8.

He had a productive first year. In 2020, he crafted more majority opinions than any other justice, a sign of ability, and persuasiveness.

“Having argued cases before the Supreme Court, I have more knowledge of the rules and procedures, and how to persuade a multi-member body,” he told the editorial board. “It’s about being a really good listener.”

Busby has been honored by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston and the Houston Young Lawyers Association as an outstanding mentor. Texas appellate lawyers elected him chair of the state bar’s appellate section.

Busby has a demonstrated ability to persuade fellow justices with his even temperament and acumen in appellate law. We urge voters to return him to the Supreme Court.

San Antonio Express-News: Incumbents best in Texas’ highest courts

In the Place 8 Texas Supreme Court race, we recommend Republican Brett Busby, who was appointed to the bench in February 2019… Busby was a committee chair on the Texas Access to Justice Commission prior to his appointment and now serves as the court’s liaison to that commission.