Eanes Independent School Dist. v. Logue, C-5434

• Decision Date: 16 July 1986
• Docket Number: No. C-5434,C-5434
• Citation: 712 S.W.2d 741
• Parties: 33 Ed. Law Rep. 929 EANES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Relators, v. The Honorable Bill LOGUE, Judge, et al., Respondents.
• Court: Texas Supreme Court

Page 741

712 S.W.2d 741

33 Ed. Law Rep. 929

EANES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Relators, v. The Honorable Bill LOGUE, Judge, et al., Respondents.

No. C-5434.

Supreme Court of Texas.

July 16, 1986.

Joe Heffington, and Thomas S. Goggan, Austin, for relators.

Lucius D. Bunton, Bunton, Nolan Ode & Cooper, Austin, Phillip McCleery, Waco and Mark Vanberg, Mercedes, for respondents.

McGEE, Justice.

Westlake High School in the Eanes Independent School District and Richfield High School in the Waco Independent School District qualified to play each other in the Regional Playoffs of the State High School Baseball Tournament. The two schools agreed on a three-game playoff series.

Rain-out problems occurred, and only one game was played. Westlake won that game. Officials of the University Interscholastic League (UIL), pursuant to the established rules of the UIL, declared Westlake the winner of the Regional Playoffs. Richfield appealed to the Executive Director of the UIL, then to the State Executive Committee of the UIL. After being refused at those two levels, Richfield filed suit in the McLennan County district court in Waco.

Richfield sought to mandatorily enjoin the UIL to conduct additional athletic competitions and to further enjoin the commencement of the State High School Baseball Tournament until Richfield and Westlake had a chance to complete their best of three series. The district court granted Richfield the relief sought.

Westlake, through Eanes Independent School District, sought mandamus relief in this court. On June 18, 1986, this court announced from the bench that the writ of mandamus was conditionally granted and would issue if the McLennan County district court refused to withdraw its orders. The district court did withdraw its orders and the playoff games were played without participation by Richfield.

This court may issue a writ of mandamus directing a trial judge to rescind an order when the directed course of action is the only proper course and the petitioner has no other adequate remedy. Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916 (Tex.1985). Under such circumstances, mandamus will lie when there is a clear abuse of discretion. Id. The trial court in the instant case abused its discretion in interfering with the decision of the UIL.

No constitutional violation has been shown here. First, the right to participate in extracurricular sports is not a fundamental right. Spring Branch Independent School District v. Stamos, 695 S.W.2d 556 (Tex.1985). Therefore, due process strictures do not apply. Id.

Second, no denial of equal protection was shown. There is neither a fundamental right nor a suspect class involved. Therefore, UIL actions are subject to a rational basis test. See Stamos, supra at 559.

The UIL rule which allowed Westlake to be declared the winner of the playoffs is clearly a...