State Bar of Texas Blog : State Bar of Texas Blog : News & Features on Lawyers & Attorneys & Legal Professionals in Austin, Dallas, Houston & TX

The American Indian Law Section of the State Bar of Texas held this year’s CLE conference on Feb.8, 2013. This year’s conference featured expert speakers on the following topics of interest relating to American Indian law:

Gaming
Kimberly Kiplin, Former General Counsel, Texas Lottery Commission; Senior Counsel, Dykema Gossett. P.L.L.C., Austin, Texas 
            
Federal Indian Law Update: An overview of important federal Indian Law cases in 2012 and facing 2013
Ray Torgerson, Partner, Porter & Hedges, Houston; Chairman and Council Member, Texas State Bar American Indian Law Section

Ethics and Tribal Justice – A Look at the State Bar of Texas Grievance Governance System and its Use as a Template in Developing Ethical Guidelines in a Tribal Justice System
Gaines West, Partner, West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, College Station; Council Member, Texas State Bar American Indian Law Section

Reburial and Repatriation
Brian Quintero
Senior Assistant County Attorney, Harris County Attorney’s Office

Eagle and Migratory Bird Laws as Applied to American Indians
Jay Hurst, Assistant Attorney General, State of Texas, Austin, Texas; Treasurer and Council Member, Texas State Bar American Indian Law Section

This year’s Indian Law Conference was blessed with the attendance and participation of Bill Voelker and Troy, both co-directors of SIA, the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, who brought with them a male golden eagle, Nuepi (which means “Tornado” in Comanche), and a female White Medicine Bird (a white red-tailed hawk), Wakiyah (which means "Carries Medicine Talk").

Every Indian Law Conference includes awarding the Tom Diamond Award of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is followed by an honoring ceremony featuring traditional Native American singing, drumming, and dancing. The award and honor ceremonies are always open to the public, especially moving and informative, and all are encouraged to attend this portion of the conference free of charge. This year’s honoring ceremony was presented by the Eagle Point singers and dancers, headed by Robbie Bass.

This year’s Tom Diamond of Excellence Award was presented to Ron Jackson, general counsel, Yselta del Sur (Tiguas), El Paso. The Section’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jay Hurst, assistant attorney general, Austin.

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation brought its “I Love Texas Courthouses” celebration to the State Capitol Wednesday. The event was part of a month-long campaign to highlight the importance of courthouses to Texas’ history, culture, and community.

At a news conference on the steps of the Capitol, officials displayed a giant heart and “love letter” that included the names of 1,000 courthouse admirers who went online (ilovetexascourthouses.org) to sign it. Texas has 235 active historic county courthouses — more than any state – but at least 75 of them need restoration. Preservation officials are encouraging individuals to go to the website and sign the letter, upload photos, and write personal stories about Texas courthouses.

In 1998 and again in 2012, the National Trust named Texas courthouses to its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The Trust also added Texas’ historic courthouses to its portfolio of “National Treasures” — a distinction held by only 33 other historic resources in the nation.

The “I Love Texas Courthouses” celebration was among several Preservation Day events at the Capitol. Preservation Texas officials also announced their list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places. The list included the Duval County Courthouse, built in 1916, in the South Texas city of San Diego. You can learn more about the Most Endangered Historic Places here.

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On March 18, Texas will mark the 50th year of Gideon v. Wainwright, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring states to provide counsel to indigent defenders.

 A distinguished group of presenters will discuss the right to counsel in Texas, the lessons from Gideon, and the path forward. Featured speakers include the Honorable Sharon Keller, President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Lydia Clay-Jackson, Senator Rodney Ellis, State Bar of Texas President Buck Files, professor Bruce Jacob, and a representative from the U.S. Department of Justice. View the full agenda.

The event is complimentary. A registration form can be mailed or faxed to TCDLA. Or you can register online at www.tcdla.com.

• March 18, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. CST
• State Capitol Extension Auditorium, 1400 S. Congress Ave.
• The event will also be live-streamed
• 1.75 CLE, 0 Ethics

The celebration is co-sponsored by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, State Senator Rodney Ellis, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

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