Richard W. Lee, Petitioners v. the City of Houston, Respondents

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that the Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Act applies to any position that requires a competitive examination testing knowledge of police work and work in the police department, and therefore the unclassified civilian appointments to supervisory positions in the Houston Police Department violated the Act. The Court reversed the Court of Appeals and remanded for entry of judgment granting the petitioners promotion and back‑pay. Two dissenting opinions argued that the Act should be limited to traditional law‑enforcement positions and that the majority’s construction exceeds legislative intent.