The Office of Court Administration is providing judges the ability to stream and host court proceedings via Zoom and YouTube. The Texas Constitution’s Open Courts Provision requires that all courts maintain public access. Only State of Texas Judges are eligible for access to the OCA-provided Zoom accounts. To request access or inquire about a previous … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community. Important links State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Jury Service Committee is seeking feedback from people summoned to jury duty about their experiences. The committee has created an online survey designed to elicit a more thorough understanding of the juror experience regardless of court or county or whether or not the individual ended up serving on a jury. … Continue Reading
The following article first appeared in the summer 2017 In Chambers magazine and is republished with permission. Serving on a jury—few understand the fundamental importance of jury service more than trial judges and appellate justices. But, how well do we communicate the significance or express our appreciation for those who are answering the summons to … Continue Reading
As Texas’ annual Jury Appreciation Week approaches in the first week of May, the State Bar of Texas wants to warn Texans about the proliferation of jury duty scams across the state in recent months. There have been widespread reports of scammers calling residents and accusing them of failing to show up for jury duty. … Continue Reading
On May 4, students from Alpine, Marathon, and Terlingua high schools were chosen as jurors to decide the fate of Luke Skywalker. When we last saw the Jedi knight, he was exiled on a seaside cliff—bearded and in a hooded robe like old Ben Kenobi. But unlike his Jedi Master, Skywalker, who famously fired the shot … Continue Reading
Over the years, I have become a huge advocate for and supporter of the jury system. After presiding over hundreds of jury trials I’ve concluded that juries tend to get it right. The collective wisdom of 12 or even six citizens is truly impressive; to use an old phrase, the sum is greater than its … Continue Reading
In Texas, the first days of May are celebrated as Jury Appreciation Week, a time to honor the service of those who give of their time to participate in the American judicial system. Created by the 84th Texas Legislature, the inaugural week kicked off last year. For this year’s festivities, the State Bar of Texas … Continue Reading
The 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas has debuted an online system allowing attorneys to access case documents not available to the public, making it the first appellate court in the state to do so, the court announced Monday. The Texas Appellate Management and E-filing System attorney portal—or TAMES—is initially being introduced in the appeals … Continue Reading
As Texas celebrates its inaugural Jury Appreciation Week, we asked judges and district clerks across the state to describe why they believe jury service is important.… Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared as a Client Page in the April 2012 issue of the Texas Bar Journal. The information included in this column is for educational and informational purposes only. Please consult an attorney regarding specific legal questions. For most people, a letter from their county clerk’s office containing a summons for … Continue Reading
