Changes

==Biography==

==Biography==

===Background===

===Background===

Bill Meier was reared in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas, where he graduated in 1958 from University High School. Afterwards, he attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, on a [[basketball]] scholarship where he received a two-year associate's degree in science. Meier then moved to [[Austin]] in 1961 to attend the [[University of Texas]], at which he received his Bachelor of Science degree. In 1966, he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the UT Law School.<ref name=ballotpedia/> Meier started practicing law in [[Dallas]] and then moved to Tarrant County in 1969, living in Euless, Hurst, and then Bedford.  He is father of three sons,  Drew, Roger and Loren.

Bill Meier was reared in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas, where he graduated in 1958 from University High School. Afterwards, he attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, on a [[basketball]] scholarship where he received a two-year associate degree in science. Meier then moved to [[Austin]] in 1961 to attend the [[University of Texas]], at which he received his Bachelor of Science degree. In 1966, he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the UT Law School.<ref name=ballotpedia/> Meier started practicing law in [[Dallas]] and then moved to Tarrant County in 1969, living in Euless, Hurst, and then Bedford.  He is father of three sons,  Drew, Roger and Loren.

===Political life===

===Political life===

A former [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Meier was the unsuccessful [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee for Texas attorney general in the 1982 [[general election]]. [[Mark White]] vacated the position to become the Democratic nominee for governor and unseated [[Bill Clements|William P. Clements, Jr.]], of Dallas, the state's first Republican governor since [[Reconstruction]].  Clements and the entire Republican slate were soundly defeated. Meier lost the race to the  Democratic [[U.S. Representative]]  James Albon Mattox (1943-2008), who vacated a Dallas-area U.S. House seat to become attorney general. Mattox won the Democratic nomination over former state Senator [[Max R. Sherman]], then of [[Amarillo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/07/us/around-the-nation-apathy-of-voters-marks-runoff-election-in-texas.html|title=Around the Nation: Apathy of Voters Marks Runoff Election in Texas|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=June 7, 1982|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref> In the general election, Mattox utilized campaign rhetoric positioning himself as "the people's lawyer," and suggested that Meier was too closely aligned with the interests of business. Meier forfeited his state senate seat when he ran for attorney general. On April 28, 2005, Meier was among several dozen living former Texas senators honored by the  legislature.

A former [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Meier was the unsuccessful [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee for Texas attorney general in the 1982 [[general election]]. [[Mark White]] vacated the position to become the Democratic nominee for governor and unseated [[Bill Clements|William P. Clements, Jr.]], of Dallas, the state's first Republican governor since [[Reconstruction]].  Clements and the entire Republican slate were soundly defeated. Meier lost the race to the  Democratic [[U.S. Representative]]  James Albon Mattox (1943-2008), who vacated a Dallas-area U.S. House seat to become attorney general. Mattox won the Democratic nomination over former state Senator [[Max R. Sherman]], then of [[Amarillo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/07/us/around-the-nation-apathy-of-voters-marks-runoff-election-in-texas.html|title=Around the Nation: Apathy of Voters Marks Runoff Election in Texas|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=June 7, 1982|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref> In the general election, Mattox utilized campaign rhetoric positioning himself as "the people's lawyer," and suggested that Meier was too closely aligned with the interests of business. Meier forfeited his state senate seat when he ran for attorney general. On April 28, 2005, Meier was among several dozen living former Texas senators honored by the  legislature.

In March 2008, Meier  won a three-candidate Republican primary for the Texas Second Court of  Appeals, and he was unopposed in the ensuing general election. He was reelected without opposition in 2014 and retired in January 2019, with two years left in his second term. A provision of the Texas code forbids a judge from seeking reelection once he turns seventy-five.<ref name=ballotpedia>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Meier|title=Bill Meier|publisher=Ballotpedia|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article173605726.html|title=Chief justice steps down as turnover strains busy Fort Worth appeals court|publisher=''The Fort Worth Star-Telegram''|date=September 17, 1977|author=Max B. Baker|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2008, Meier  won a three-candidate Republican primary for the Texas Second Court of  Appeals, and he was unopposed in the ensuing general election. He was reelected without opposition in 2014 and retired in January 2019, with two years left in his second term. A provision of the Texas code forbids a judge from seeking reelection once he turns seventy-five.<ref name=ballotpedia>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Meier|title=Bill Meier|publisher=Ballotpedia|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article173605726.html|title=Chief justice steps down as turnover strains busy Fort Worth appeals court|publisher=''The Fort Worth Star-Telegram''|date=September 17, 1977|author=Max B. Baker|accessdate=August 21, 2020}}</ref>

===Filibuster===

===Filibuster===

In May 1977, near the close of the regular legislative  session, Meier spoke for forty-three hours against a worker's compensation bill that he considered "anti-business."  Though his filibuster on that bill was unsuccessful (it ultimately passed 23-7) it drew attention to the underlying issues, ultimately resulting in a major overhaul of the state's worker's compensation system.<ref name=filibuster/>

In May 1977, near the close of the regular legislative  session, Meier spoke for forty-three hours against a worker's compensation bill that he considered "anti-business."  Though his filibuster on that bill was unsuccessful (it ultimately passed 23–7) it drew attention to the underlying issues, ultimately resulting in a major overhaul of the state's worker's compensation system.<ref name=filibuster/>

The previous filibuster record, for twenty-four hours, had been held by then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]], who spoke against adoption of what became the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

The previous filibuster record, for twenty-four hours, had been held by then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]], who spoke against adoption of what became the Civil Rights Act of 1957.