Honoring a Texas Legal Legend

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Patricia L Garcia

On Jan. 23, Texas lost one of its legal legends, Louise Ballerstedt Raggio. She was 91. Named the "Mother of Family Law in Texas," Raggio was a well-known civil rights activist and champion for the rights of women and children in Texas.

Raggio was instrumental in establishing property rights for women in Texas by advocating for the passage of the Texas Marital Property Act of 1967.

In addition to helping the state's women and children gain legal rights, Raggio garnered a long list of firsts: the only woman in her class at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, the first female assistant district attorney in Dallas, the first female State Bar director, just to name a few. On the TexasBarBooks blog, you can find an autobiographical video and tribute to Raggio.

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No place like home: Bell County Bar and National Adoption Day

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Holly Wilkerson

The Bell County Bar Association is preparing for their second annual National Adoption Day. This year's theme is "The Wizard of Oz, There's No Place Like Home." A yellow brick road will lead the way to the bench as 32 children will be adopted by 20 families on November 16.

"The purpose of this day is to make it the most special day of their life," Judge Rick Morris (pictured), President of the Bell County Bar said.

Adopted children will receive special gifts to signify their adoptions - engraved necklaces for girls and engraved dog tags for boys. Teddy bears, books, and donated bags of necessities from hospitals will also be presented to the new families. A photographer will take pictures of the new families and each family will receive an 8x10 framed photo of the special day.

Fifteen attorneys, four judges and 20 paralegals have volunteered their time for adoptions and to write wills.

"National Adoption Day is so fun, I should have to pay to take part!" Morris said, "There will not be a dry eye in the room."
 

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