Last year, as the world reeled from the COVID pandemic, we discussed the Texas economy and how its key industries were faring. In June 2020, things were bleak. Unemployment was at 13%, the price of oil had crashed below the zero mark, and the health care system was suffering immense revenue losses amid a 56% decline in patient volume. When we checked back a few months later, businesses were still struggling, particularly in the energy sector, and companies were declaring bankruptcy at an extraordinary rate. The court system was at a virtual standstill: while Texas courts oversaw an average of 186 jury trials per week in 2019, during the period of March to December 2020, that number dropped to an astounding four trials per week. Pre-COVID, jury trials totaled over 10,000 annually; in 2020, there were only 222.