With the new calendar year comes the start of the Texas Supreme Court’s 2009 Term. It may be a formality, but for the clerk’s office, it means a whole new slate of docket numbers.

This year’s “New Year Baby” petition — the one with the 09-0001 designation — is In re Charles Watkins, No. 09-0001 (DB), a petition for writ of mandamus involving an order to compel arbitration. (( The full text of the court of appeals’s memorandum opinion reads, “Relator, Charles Watkins, has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus complaining of Judge Patricia Kerrigan’s November 10, 2008 order compelling arbitration. After due consideration, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus.” ))