Judge Removed from Texas Foster Care Case

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has removed U.S. District Judge Janis Jack from a long-standing case against Texas' foster care system, following a request by Governor Greg Abbott. The panel ruled that her 'highly antagonistic demeanor' compromised the appearance of impartiality, leading to the reversal of her $100,000-a-day fine against the state for failing to comply with court orders. Judge Jack, who has overseen the case for over a decade, had found Texas' system unconstitutional and repeatedly held the state in contempt for failing to fix the issues. Despite progress, the court saw her continued oversight as potentially leading to more drastic micromanagement. Attorney Paul Yetter, representing the foster children, plans to appeal the decision, expressing concern for the children affected by the state's ongoing failures. The ruling marks a significant turning point in the 13-year legal battle over Texas' foster care system.