Texas Business Court Holds Hearing at SMU Dedman School of Law

The Texas Business Court, which began hearing cases in 2024, recently held a hearing at SMU Dedman School of Law, offering students a unique opportunity to observe complex commercial litigation in real time.

The hearing, presided over by Judge Bill Whitehill, involved a legal dispute between the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars and received coverage from local media outlets, including The Dallas Morning News.

Hosting proceedings from the Texas Business Court (Division 1B) provides law students with firsthand exposure to the judicial process and the types of high-stakes commercial disputes that come before the court.

“Dedman Law’s partnership with the Texas Business Court presents an extraordinary educational opportunity for students,” said Jason Nance. “Through this collaboration, students will gain firsthand insight into the inner workings of this newly established court system at a time when it is still new to practicing lawyers across the state. This early exposure will give Dedman Law students a distinctive advantage in their careers and enhance their marketability with leading law firms.”

Students, faculty, and members of the legal community were able to observe the hearing and gain insight into how major commercial disputes are argued and decided.

The Texas Business Court hears certain business disputes with more than $10 million in controversy or $5 million in special circumstances. These courts also have jurisdiction over state constitutional challenges and certain appeals by or against the state, its subdivisions, or state employees in their official capacity.

Read the full coverage from The Dallas Business Journal.