Gov. Greg Abbott swore in the newly appointed judges to the Texas Business Court on September 19 at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth. Created during the 88th legislative session with the enactment of HB 19, each Business Court Division will provide a mechanism for businesses to resolve complex commercial disputes in Texas.

“Last year, I worked with the Texas Legislature to pass a law creating the first-ever Texas business courts, along with a centralized court of appeals, to resolve public law disputes and constitutional challenges that impact Texas businesses across our state,” Abbott said in a press release. “Today, I am proud to swear in the first judges to the Texas business courts. These experienced individuals will serve to ensure that Texas businesses will have a sophisticated and efficient process to resolve their disputes. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these courts will provide for a bigger, better Texas for generations to come.”

The governor swore in Andrea Bouressa and William “Bill” Whitehill to the 1st Business Court Division in Dallas; Melissa Andrews and Patrick K. Sweeten to the 3rd Business Court Division in Austin; Marialyn Barnard and Stacy Sharp to the 4th Business Court Division in San Antonio; Jerry Bullard and Brian Stagner to the 8th Business Court Division in Fort Worth; and Sofia Adrogué and Grant Dorfman to the 11th Business Court Division in Houston.

For more information about the Texas Business Court, go to txcourts.gov/about-texas-courts/business-court/.