The County of Dallas, Petitioner v. Linda L. Wiland, as Administrator for the Estate of Stanley Gaines, Jim…

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that deputy constables covered by the county civil‑service manual have a property interest in continued employment that may not be taken without just cause, and that the County denied them procedural due process by failing to provide the required hearing. Because the trial court wrongly decided that lack of just cause was a matter of law, the Court reversed the appellate judgment and remanded for further determination of just cause and appropriate damages. The Court also concluded that no substantive‑due‑process claim exists. Justice Brister filed a partial concurrence/dissent.