In Re Airstream, Inc. and RV Retailer Texas II LLC D/B/A Blue Compass RV v. the State of Texas

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-24-00787-CV

In re Airstream, Inc. and RV Retailer Texas II LLC d/b/a Blue Compass RV

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FROM TRAVIS COUNTY

ORDER AND MEMORANDUM OPINION

Relators have filed a petition for writ of mandamus challenging the trial court’s

order denying their motion to dismiss. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.1. After signing the order denying

the motion to dismiss, the respondent judge, the Honorable Madeleine Connor, left office as the

presiding judge of the 353rd District Court of Travis County.

Under Rule 7.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, when a public officer

ceases to hold office, “[i]f the case is an original proceeding under Rule 52, the court must abate

the proceeding to allow the successor to reconsider the original party’s decision.” Id. R. 7.2(b);

see also In re Gonzales, 391 S.W.3d 251, 252 (Tex. App.—Austin 2012, orig. proceeding)

(explaining underlying policy rationale behind Rule 7.2(b), which is to afford successor judge an

opportunity to rule on relator’s complaint before appellate court considers mandamus petition).

Accordingly, we abate this mandamus petition for thirty days and instruct the

successor judge to prepare and send to this Court her ruling on the motion to dismiss no later than April 2, 2025. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.10(b) (noting appellate court may grant any just temporary

relief pending appellate court’s action on mandamus petition).

It is so ordered on March 3, 2025.

Before Justices Triana, Theofanis, and Crump

Abated and Remanded

Filed: March 3, 2025