The Texas Supreme Court rejected the state Republican Party’s appeal to force an in-person convention in Houston after city officials canceled the event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The court said in the 7-1 decision delivered Monday that although the Republican Party has constitutional rights to hold a convention, it does not have those rights under the agreement with the Houston First Corporation, which canceled its contract with the party to hold a convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“The Party argues it has constitutional rights to hold a convention and engage in electoral activities, and that is unquestionably true. But those rights do not allow it to simply commandeer use of the Center. Houston First’s only duty to allow the Party use of the Center for its Convention is under the terms of the parties’ Agreement, not a constitution,” the court said in the opinion.

Justice Jeffrey Boyd did not participate in the discussion, and Justice John Devine filed a dissenting opinion.