Justin Murray, a professor at New York Law School, has expressed concerns about weak appellate review fostering misconduct in America’s trial courts. His statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Lawlessness is rampant in America’s trial courts, facilitated by weak standards of appellate review that turn a blind eye to patterns of illegal behavior by judges, prosecutors, and the systems of which they are a part,” said Murray.
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas lawmakers reignited debate over “lawsuit abuse” in 2025 through Senate Bill 30. This proposal aimed to limit “nuclear verdicts” and restrict inflated medical damages in trial courts. The bill faced extensive testimony from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and plaintiff lawyers before ultimately failing in late-session negotiations, reflecting ongoing disputes over trial-court practices.
Court statistics highlight both caseloads and accountability concerns. The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts reported that civil filings in district courts rose by 22% in the year ending March 31, 2024, while criminal filings declined by 4%. Separately, a judiciary workplace survey released in 2023 revealed notable reports of misconduct among court employees, as reported by Reuters.
National litigation studies indicate that Texas is among the states experiencing rising high-dollar jury awards. Marathon Strategies reported 135 “nuclear verdicts” nationwide totaling $31.3 billion in 2024, with Texas frequently serving as a venue, particularly for federal intellectual property cases. The American Tort Reform Association also identified a Texas appellate district on its 2024–25 “Judicial Hellholes” Watch List.
Murray is a professor of law at New York Law School, where he co-directs the Criminal Justice Institute and teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, and constitutional law. His scholarship focuses on prosecutorial discretion and systemic misconduct. He was elevated to full professor in 2025 after joining the school in 2019.
New York Law School was founded in 1891 by former Columbia faculty members and is a private institution located in Manhattan. It aims to combine rigorous scholarship with practical training and pioneered evening J.D. programs as early as 1894. The school continues to emphasize innovation and service to New York’s diverse legal community.
