Texas Access to Justice Foundation creates new fellowship to serve veterans

By Will Korn on May 27, 2022

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TAJF, which provides grant funding for civil legal aid in Texas, announced the creation of the Terry O. Tottenham Veterans Justice Fellowship. The fellowship honors veteran, current TAJF Secretary, and former State Bar of Texas President Terry O. Tottenham, who is of counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright in Austin.

The new fellowship will be a priority for one of the annually selected, TAJF-sponsored Equal Justice Work Fellows to help address the legal needs of our veterans. Each year a Veterans Justice Fellow will be selected ensuring that lawyers are routinely placed to address the pressing legal issues facing veterans throughout Texas.

“Veterans deserve access to our civil justice system as they struggle with legal needs affecting their health, housing, and financial security,” said Deborah Hankinson, chair of the TAJF board of directors, in a press release. “Terry Tottenham is an exceptional lawyer who served in the U.S. Marines, and we’re honored to create this fellowship in recognition of his tireless efforts to serve those who have served.”

Posted inNews

Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters Committee announces Indigent Defense Awards winners

By Will Korn on May 27, 2022

The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters Committee announced Michael J. Ritter as the 2022 recipient of the Michael K. Moore Award for Excellence in Research or Writing in the Area of Indigent Criminal Defense. Jeff Blackburn is the 2022 recipient of the Warren Burnett Award.

Ritter is senior counsel at Schmoyer Reinhard in San Antonio. The Michael K. Moore award is presented to an individual or organization in recognition of exceptional research or writing that deals with indigent criminal defense and that represents a significant contribution to the knowledge and practices of the bench, bar, and scholarly communities. It is named after Michael K. Moore for his pivotal role in research and writing efforts that had a major effect on indigent defense in Texas.

Jeff Blackburn is a partner at Blackburn & Brown in Amarillo, where he practices criminal defense and civil rights. The Warren Burnett Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to improving the quality of criminal legal representation to indigent Texans. The award honors either an individual or an organization for their work in the courtroom, Legislature, or in the public sphere.

Posted inDiversity State Bar Texas Minority Counsel Program

State Bar of Texas announces 2021 TMCP award winners

By Lowell Brown on May 27, 2022

The State Bar of Texas today announced the recipients of the 2021 Texas Minority Counsel Program awards, which honor outstanding attorneys for their impact in the areas of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

The Texas Minority Counsel Program, or TMCP, is the premier client development, networking, and continuing legal education event for attorneys in Texas. The program, which is open to all attorneys, aims to bolster the amount and significance of legal work obtained by minority, women, and LGBTQ+ attorneys, and attorneys of other historically underrepresented groups.

Recipients of the 2021 TMCP awards appear below along with a description of each award. Past award recipients and more information on the program can be found at texasbar.com/tmcp. Continue Reading

Posted inTexas Lawyers' Assistance Program

TYLA seeks judges for State Moot Court Competition

By Lowell Brown on May 25, 2022

The Texas Young Lawyers Association is seeking volunteers to judge the State Moot Court Competition preliminary rounds in Houston. Eight law school teams from across the state will compete in the competition on June 7 and 8.

Judges are needed for the preliminary rounds as follows:

Round 1 – Tuesday, June 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Round 2 – Tuesday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Round 3 – Tuesday, June 7 at 2 p.m.
Round 4 – Tuesday, June 7 at 4 p.m.
Round 5 – Wednesday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Round 6 – Wednesday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m.
Round 7 – Wednesday, June 8 at 2 p.m.

Posted inNews

Christopher V. Popov sworn in as new HBA president

By Eric Quitugua on May 23, 2022

Christopher V. Popov, of Vinson & Elkins, took office as president of the Houston Bar Association during the HBA Annual Dinner on May 19. Continue Reading

Posted inCLE

FOIFT and AG’s Office to host open government seminars in San Antonio, Edinburg areas

By Bambi Hall on May 19, 2022

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is partnering with the Texas Attorney General’s Office to host two open government seminars in the San Antonio and Edinburg areas in June, featuring training in state open meeting and public records laws. The events are free and open to the public.

The half-day seminars — designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public who want to learn more about the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act — will take place on June 7 in San Antonio and June 13 in Edinburg. Continue Reading

Posted inNews

ABA releases second report on bar pass data by race, ethnicity, and gender

By Eric Quitugua on May 19, 2022

The Managing Director’s Office of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar released bar pass data for ABA-approved law schools that lists pass rates based on race, ethnicity, and gender. Continue Reading

Posted inNews

Texas Bar Foundation donates $6,000 to Tarrant County nonprofit

By Eric Quitugua on May 18, 2022

Texas Bar Foundation donates $6,000 to Tarrant County nonprofit

The Texas Bar Foundation’s donation to Alliance For Children will help facilitate the presentation of a new training course—Behavioral Characteristics of Sex Offenders— for staff and partners. The course will be led by Michael L. Bourke, a former chief psychologist for the U.S. Marshals Service. Continue Reading

Posted inSponsored Content

Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee announces Pro Bono Excellence award winners

By Will Korn on May 17, 2022

The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee has announced its 2022 Pro Bono Excellence awards winners.

Michael Logan Ware, of Fort Worth, received the Frank J. Scurlock Award; the Rev. Brooks Harrington, of Fort Worth, received the J. Chrys Dougherty Award; Judge Jerry W. Simoneaux Jr., of Harris County Probate Court 1 in Houston, received the Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award; Metroplex Veterans Legal Services, of Dallas, received the Pro Bono Award; Audrey F. Momanaee, of Houston, received the Pro Bono Coordinator Award; Stacey Manela, of Houston, received the Pro Bono Support Staff Award; and Sidley Austin LLP of Dallas received the W. Frank Newton Award.