Home/Court of Appeals of Texas/Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided September 9, 2025·No. 15-24-00116-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 15-24-00116-CV FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/9/2025 10:51 AM No. 15-24-00116-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK

IN THE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk

ARNULFO CORTEZ, JR., HOMERO R. BALDERAS, BRIAN D. NIPPER, MARK F. VAN ROSENDAEL, AND BRYAN K.

HUGGHINS Appellants,

V.

TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, GREGORY STEVENS IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, JOHN BEAUCHAMP IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS COUNSEL FOR TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND T.J. VINEYARD, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS MAJOR FOR TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT Appellees.

On Appeal from Cause No. D-1-GN-24-002797 in the 455th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas, Hon. Daniella Deseta Lyttle

ARNULFO CORTEZ JR.’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL DISMISSAL OF HIS APPEAL ONLY

HYDE KELLEY LLP GEORGE E. HYDE 2806 Flintrock Trace, Suite A104 Texas Bar No. 45006157 Austin, Texas 78738 ghyde@txlocalgovlaw.com Telephone: (512) 686-0700 MATTHEW L. WESTON Facsimile: (866) 929-1641 Texas Bar No. 24037698 mweston@txlocalgovlaw.com

TO THE HONORABLE FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS:

Appellant Arnulfo Cortez, Jr. (“Cortez”), and only Cortez, file this Motion for

Partial Dismissal of His Appeal Only and would show the Court as follows:

1. Cortez, and only Cortez, no longer wishes to pursue his appeal against

Appellees Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Gregory Stevens in his

Capacity as the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement,

John Beauchamp in his Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law

Enforcement and T.J. Vineyard, in his Official Capacity as Major for Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement. The remaining Appellants still wish to pursue

their appeal.

2. Partial dismissal will not prejudice the remaining parties. The

remaining appellants may still pursue their claims.

PRAYER

For these reasons, Appellant Arnulfo Cortez, Jr. respectfully request that the

Court grant dismiss his appeal against Texas Commission on Law Enforcement,

Gregory Stevens in his Capacity as the Executive Director of the Texas Commission

on Law Enforcement, John Beauchamp in his Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement and T.J. Vineyard, in his Official Capacity as

Major for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement without prejudice. This Motion

does not affect any other Appellants.

Dated: September 9, 2025

Respectfully submitted,

HYDE KELLEY LLP 2806 Flintrock Trace, Suite A104 Austin, Texas 78738 Telephone: (512) 686-0700 Facsimile: (866) 929-1641

/s/ George E. Hyde GEORGE E. HYDE Texas State Bar No. 45006157 ghyde@txlocalgovlaw.com MATTHEW L. WESTON Texas State Bar No. 24037698 mweston@txlocalgovlaw.com

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS

CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

Pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 10.1(a)(5), I certify that I have conferred with

opposing counsel in this case regarding this motion. As of the time of this filing,

counsel for Appellees has not stated whether her client is opposed to the motion.

/s/ George E. Hyde GEORGE E. HYDE

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned attorney, hereby certify that on September 9, 2025, a true

and correct copy of the foregoing document was served in accordance with the Texas

Rules of Appellate Procedure upon the counsel of record in this cause via electronic

service.

Lauren McGee Lauren.mcgee@oag.texas.gov Assistant Attorney General Administrative Law Division Office of the Attorney General of Texas P.O. Box 12548, Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711-2548 Telephone: (512) 475-3203

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES

/s/ George E. Hyde GEORGE E. HYDE

Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Alani Alvarez on behalf of George Hyde Bar No. 45006157 aalvarez@txlocalgovlaw.com Envelope ID: 105374803 Filing Code Description: Motion Filing Description: 2025.09.09 Cortez Partial Dismissal Status as of 9/9/2025 11:15 AM CST

Associated Case Party: Arnulfo Cortez

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Alani Alvarez aalvarez@txlocalgovlaw.com 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

Christopher Corbett ccorbett@txlocalgovlaw.com 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

George E.Hyde Ghyde@txlocalgovlaw.com 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

Lillian Goebel lgoebel@txlocalgovlaw.com 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

Matthew Weston mweston@txlocalgovlaw.com 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

Case Contacts

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Lauren McGee 24128835 Lauren.mcgee@oag.texas.gov 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

Associated Case Party: TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Jennifer Foster Jennifer.Foster@oag.texas.gov 9/9/2025 10:51:59 AM SENT

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Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, (Tex. Ct. App. 2025).

Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.