In a move that's raising eyebrows, Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine cast a dissenting vote in a significant sex abuse case without recusing himself, despite previous professional ties to the defendants. Devine, once an attorney at the law firm of Woodfill & Pressler LLP, was found to be connected to the firm during the time when the plaintiff, a former firm employee, alleges he was sexually abused by former Southern Baptist Convention leader, Paul Pressler.
Despite two other justices bowing out due to past affiliations with the law firm representing the plaintiff, Devine stood firm in his decision to remain on the bench, arguing he had "no personal knowledge of the facts" in the case. Devine maintained that his previous work with law partner Jared Woodfill did not constitute a conflict of interest. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately allowed the lawsuit to progress after a 5-2 decision to proceed past the statute of limitations challenge, over which, Devine dissented, according to CBS Austin.
The case in question has brought to light several abuse allegations against Pressler. A deposition revealed that Woodfill, who is not accused of abuse in the lawsuit, had used firm funds to pay young men for work done out of Pressler’s home, despite being warned of Pressler's predatory behavior, as per Texas Tribune.
Investigations by the Texas Tribune into Devine’s history with Woodfill & Pressler LLP unearthed that he was named as an attorney or guardian ad litem in at least 27 cases between 2002 and 2008, which contradicts Devine’s claim of lack of association. These discoveries come at a critical time as Woodfill runs for a Texas House seat, backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, and as Devine himself faces re-election. His primary challenger, Judge Brian Walker, is making Devine's ethical judgments a central theme of his campaign.
