Grandma Loses / Texas Open Meetings Act Challenged

Well, it looks like "Grandma" won't be on the Texas ballot this November. Carole Strayhorn had taken the Texas Secretary of State to court to try and get herself listed as "Grandma" on the ballot. Thursday, Judge Suzanne Covington ruled that she does not have the juristiction to hear Strayhorn's case. The ruling allows the Secretary of State's decision to stand.

Grandma's attorney, Roy Minton, said he would appeal the judge's ruling to a state appellate court. He believes the appellate court will say the judge does have juristiction. Grandma did not discuss the legalities of the case, but said, "I'm not a slogan; I'm Grandma."

Update - The Dallas Morning News is now reporting that Grandma has dropped the lawsuit. Think she figured out she was becoming the joke of the election?


In other legal news, US District Judge Robert Junell heard arguments Wednesday in a case challenging the Texas Open Meetings Act. The law, which was enacted in 1967, is being challenged by Alpine City Councilman Avinash Rangra and former Alpine City Council member, Anna Monclova. The two were arrested in the Fall of 2004 for sending each other e-mails about city business. The law says city business must be conducted in a meeting open to the public. The charges were dropped in 2005.

Judge Junell has given the parties until late September to file any additional pleadings.

This is a tough one. The law may be being interpreted too broadly in some parts of Texas, but prosecutions are rare. In fact, this case was eventually dropped. I hope the law survives the judicial challenge. This law is in the best interests of the citizens of Texas.