It's the state's highest court, paid by Texas taxpayers to interpret the law. But Austin-based watchdog group Texas Watch says Texas Supreme Court justices are way behind on their work.

The court left a record number of cases pending at the end of the 2007.

"Texans in all walks of life are stuck in a legal limbo because they can't get their case resolved in the Supreme Court of Texas," said Texas Watch director Alex Winslow.

Exactly one year ago, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of the Cull family versus Houston homebuilder Bob Perry.

An arbiter ruled Perry Homes built a shoddy home and awarded the couple nearly one million dollars. Perry Homes took its challenge all the way to the state Supreme Court, but one year later, both sides are still awaiting an opinion.

"Families who have to wait for justice are often denied it," said Winslow.

Analysis by Texas Watch found justices take 14 months, on average, to issue an opinion after they first hear a case. So the Perry homes case is actually on schedule, considering the court's pace.

For opinions that came out between 2006 and 2007, cases took on average 2.3 years to resolve.

"The sad truth is that many members of the current Supreme Court of Texas just don't work very hard," said Winslow.

Where are the justices if they're not in the office?

Campaign finance records show many of them do extensive traveling around the state and country. Justice Dale Wainwright logged the most hours on the road or in the air, traveling to conferences and other events.

"The work of the Court does not only occur when Justices are sitting in chambers upstairs," Wainwright told sister station WFAA-TV.

Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson disputes the Texas Watch numbers.

"There's always a backlog of cases at the Supreme Court of Texas," Jefferson said.

But he conceded the court might have a work ethic problem.

"I think the court could do better, and so to an extent, I'd say yes."

Jefferson said he would make improvements to issue opinions more efficiently.

"He says he's going to try and make improvements. We'll see. I certainly hope that he does," Winslow said.

Texas is one of only two states in the nation that elects its Supreme Court justices.

Three of the justices face re-election this November.