Sec. 22.304.  COURT SITTING IN PANELS FOR CERTAIN ELECTION PROCEEDINGS; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.  (a)  In this section, "public official" means any person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as an officer, employee, or agent of this state, a government agency, a political subdivision, or any other public body established by state law.
(b)  Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a court proceeding entitled to priority under Section 22.305 and filed in a court of appeals shall be docketed by the clerk of the court and assigned to a panel of three justices determined using an automated assignment system.
(c)  A person, including a public official, commits an offense if the person communicates with a court clerk with the intention of influencing or attempting to influence the composition of a three-justice panel assigned a specific proceeding under this section.
(d)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 8.05, eff. December 2, 2021.