L.d. Whitworth, Petitioner v. Douglas Bynum, Jr., Respondent

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that the Texas Automobile Guest Statute violates the Texas Constitution's equal protection clause because its classifications are not rationally related to a legitimate state interest, and it rejected the argument that federal precedent forecloses state constitutional review. The Court reversed the lower courts and remanded for trial. Justice Hill dissented, arguing the statute is constitutionally permissible.