On December 23, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court issued an order regarding amendments to Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 64.  This Top Tip focuses on those changes relevant to the petition for review process.  Even if you do not practice appellate law, these changes could impact your clients’ matters that end up on appeal. Understanding these changes will assist you in advising clients about timelines, attorneys’ fees, and overall strategy. 

A good place to start for an overall understanding of the changes is the Supreme Court’s Procedures Summary, which is appended to the end of the Court’s order. See, page 28 of Misc. Docket No. 25-9104.  In that summary, the Court explains that the purpose of the changes is to “eliminate the Court’s practice of requesting merits briefs before granting a petition for review.”  Id. The general consensus is that this new practice, along with a more streamlined internal process for making decisions on whether to request a response or grant a petition, will be more succinct, less burdensome and less costly for litigants.  Other changes, discussed below, make clear to parties the importance of clear, concise, and…