Texas Supreme Court Rules Against UT System Regent Wallace Hall in Records Fight

AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall cannot have access to admissions records and other student documents he has fought to obtain for years, likely putting an end to Hall's battles with university leaders. The court ruled in favor of UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven and said he was within his rights to deny Hall access to the documents. Hall's six-year term as a regent ends on Feb. 1 and Gov. Greg Abbott has already nominated a replacement for his post. The court decision said there "are concrete limits on Hall's claimed right to complete access," but these limits are set by the Board of Regents as a whole and not by McRaven as an individual. Hall sued McRaven. In the 2015 lawsuit, Hall sought access to records that informed the findings of an independent report that numerous under-qualified students were admitted to UT-Austin due to the influence of lawmakers, donors and other powerful individuals. McRaven and other UT System officials offered Hall access to the records with confidential student information redacted, but he insisted on reviewing the documents in full. The state's Supreme Court decided to take up the case in December and held oral arguments earlier this month.   Continue reading...