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If I'm reading this debate right, the major point seems to be that because John Wagner has written so much Dredd, and has inarguably written all the very best Dredds (often along with Alan Grant), we've ended up with a situation in which no one else will ever be able to write a Dredd story that goes down in history as an all-time classic. Although we all dearly hope that John Wagner can and will still manage to do this (speaking personally, I loved Harvey and look forward to the next chapter of that saga!)

As a result, the logic goes, no other writer should bother writing any Dredds as, even though some will be among the top tier of all Dredd stories, none can ever hope to be a true all-time classic.

If there are some unspoken restrictions on what you can and cannot include in a Dredd story, then maybe that could raise a level of deterrence in quite many prospective penmen. Maybe you can dodge that by deviating from the official timeline, use some other non-canon means of implementation, or just write a spectacular piece of narrative.

But as far as I know no-one wants  or can do life changing Dredds unless The big W gives the okay, but he has created an endless sandbox for them to play in.

Do you think this unspoken (?) rule applies in other media?

The whole strife between the two megacities isn't so explicated, a bit too ambiguous. If you want a somewhat perspicuous depiction of Texas City, the best sources seems to be Every Empire Falls, The Judge Child Quest and probably TC Sting.

Considering the previous posts, this fierce dissent between Texas City and MC-1 seems to constitute some untapped, fertile ground. Is this conflict really not featured in any substantial way in a published story?

Do the judges in Texas City usually wear cowboy hats or the standard helmet with a lone star?

Is it, though? Assuming your interest stems from one of your writing projects, you have a huge amount of freedom to work with, but enough differences from MC-1 to suggest a flavour.

Maybe, maybe not. I'll need to read through the source material before I make up my mind. I revere the source material, so I don't want to veer off the course too much.

The back half of the Every Empire Falls collection probably contains more detail on Texas City Justice Dept than any other story.

You'll probably want to read its first (?) appearance in 'The Judge Child' Eps 5&6 (Case Files 4) as well as 'Texas City Sting' (CF17). Though most 'Missionary Man' stories don't take place in Texas City itself, Preacher Cain is an ex-judge of that parish, so that series is probably a good source of info.

Will look up and sift through all these examples.

Deep In The Heart (2016-2019), although it's neither overall nor thorough. Sorry, Sandman - the story/stories you're looking for do not exist.

It's a real pity, but then there is at least some room to fill. 

I'm looking for an overall, thorough conception of Texas City and its judicial officials. Can you suggest some excellent examples? I prefer stories/comics in color.

Imagine you're in a CIA cell for a day, under constant 'treatment' from a rotating roster of torturers.  After you've endured that for a day you're let out.  Upon release you're taken in by the CIA again.  Then again.  How capable are you of making rational decisions after you've been subjected to that treatment, day in, day out?  Context is everything.

He shouldn't do business in the underworld if he can't handle arduous adversities. He can also take more thoughtful precautions, especially if he intends to attack a super cop in a totalitarian reality. Or he can also seize other actions, like depart from the city. 

The psyker had been subject to a repeated, sustained harassment campaign by Dredd, involving being psychically assaulted by Psi-Judges for a few days straight (the Psi-Judges got some rest, going on shifts to attack the psyker - the psyker had no such luxury).

It's not that especially sagaciously to use psychic powers if Judges can track down someone who uses that ability.

You forget the context though - obviously they're feeble-minded, otherwise they wouldn't have been so easily psychically manipulated!

I may have misinterpreted the context, but the guy with the special powers wasn't particularly shrewd either.

Old skool mafia to boot!

Professionals? Rex and Louis made a feeble-minded decision and jumped right on Dredd. I hope the Frendz Mob maintains a higher standard.   

The Frendz Mob seems to fit the bill, so I'm going to read up on them. 

Not entirely sure that the mafia makes sense in a city ruled by the judges, but there you go.

Why not? Such congregations of criminals seems to conduct their business behind the curtains, while gangs act as open targets on the street. Rigorous precautions, and maybe some know-how about the system, can surely make your boat float even in rough regimes.

No, just in Doomsday. When we first meet him, he's a brain in a life-support unit, with a human face projected on a screen.

Just a yes or no question, does it become clear why he ended up in that apparatus?

In their day, the Mega-City Frendz, led by Nero Narcos, fitted the bill. First introduced in 'Bad Frendz' (Case Files 23) further developed in 'The Pit' (Case Files 24 & 25.) Don't recall if the organisation survived the events of 'Doomsday' (Case Files 30, by the looks of it).

The Frendz Mob is the most powerful crime organisation in the city, at least according to the site I list below. But I just don't like the demonic look of Mr Narcos. Does he look like that in all the stories?

http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Nero_Narcos