Investigations that examined intellectual disability and the death penalty in Texas and why so many sexual assault cases in one of the state’s largest counties went unpunished are among the winners of the 2020 Texas Gavel Awards. Journalists representing The Texas Tribune, Austin American-Statesman, and Austin’s NPR station—KUT 90.5, were selected as winners of the … Continue Reading
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics has announced that Reagan W. Simpson, of Houston, will receive the 2020 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award. Simpson will be presented with the award by Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht at the annual Texas Supreme Court Historical Society Dinner to be held virtually on September … Continue Reading
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan urged the public to remain vigilant for COVID-19 scams that are targeted through emails, texts, phone calls, and in one case, in person. In the recent in-person scam, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said men claiming to be Houston Public Works employees gained access to a couple’s home by alleging water … Continue Reading
In a world where COVID-19 has forced people to rethink how they’ll thrive, bar associations are probably not on the minds of attorneys who are currently navigating a new arena built on a bedrock of plexiglass benches, Zoom, and social distancing. But in this pandemic, it’s OK to put some things on the backburner, said … Continue Reading
The Texas Young Lawyers Association will be recognized with three top honors by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division during the American Bar Association meeting at 11 a.m. July 30. TYLA received the three awards in State Division A: the Overall Comprehensive Award, Diversity Award, and Service to the Bar Award. State Division A … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members today. The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors held a special meeting on July 27 to discuss and consider action regarding online commentary made by State Bar of Texas President Larry McDougal and other directors. The board heard from 61 speakers and accepted hundreds … Continue Reading
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, a joint initiative of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and local Dallas law firms are hosting virtual clinics every week in August.… Continue Reading
The University of Houston Law Center is launching the first military justice clinic that has law students, under the supervision of faculty and experienced military defense attorneys, represent service members facing criminal charges. Maj. Jason Marquez, clinical adjunct professor at UH Law Center and a 21-year veteran of the armed forces, will lead the military … Continue Reading
Access to Justice 7: Transforming Legal Incubators and Law Practices, hosted by Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, will be held virtually at 10:30 a.m. CDT on Friday. The free event will feature best practices for leveraging technology and marketing tactics to reach untapped markets in dire need. It will also provide pedagogy for … Continue Reading
The Houston Volunteer Lawyers will serve low-income Baytown residents with free legal consultations. Qualifying individuals will receive one-on-one legal advice and counsel by appointment over the phone and screening for continued legal representation. Appointments take place Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m. and every third Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Legal issues covered in … Continue Reading
The Dallas Bar Association will host a virtual town hall to discuss race relations and policing in Dallas from noon to 1 p.m. on July 31. Panelists at the forum include Dallas Chief of Police Reneé Hall; Tonya McClary, director of the Office of Community Police Oversight Monitor; Pastor Richie Butler, of St. Luke Community … Continue Reading
Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul W. Green has announced that he plans to retire on August 31, 2020. Green has served on the Supreme Court since January 2005. Green is second in seniority on the court, having been elected in November 2004 after 10 years on the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. Green’s … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. CDT Monday, July 27. Among items on the agenda, the board will accept comments, discuss, and consider possible action regarding online commentary made by State Bar of Texas President Larry McDougal and other officers and directors. The board also … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program will present “Well-Being for Law Students and Grads Studying for the Bar Exam,” from noon to 1 p.m. CDT on July 29. The webinar can be viewed on Zoom and will be recorded for later viewings. Additionally, TLAP recently produced a program for law students and graduates dealing with anxiety … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Membership Department was informed in June 2020 of the deaths of these members. We join the officers and directors of the State Bar in expressing our deepest sympathy.… Continue Reading
Daniel K. Worthington, of Ramon Worthington in Edinburg, is now the nominating chair for the Texas Bar Foundation’s District 12. In this role, he will help identify elite nominees to join as fellows.… Continue Reading
The Veterans Legal Initiative clinics will offer free legal advice and legal representation to low-income U.S. veterans in Harris and nearby counties every Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. over the phone.… Continue Reading
Ready for the latest issue of the Texas Bar Journal? Check out our July/August issue, covering civil rights and individual liberties and introducing the 2020-2021 presidents of the State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association. And don’t forget to check out Movers and Shakers, Disciplinary Actions, and Memorials.… Continue Reading
A task force designed to help the Texas courts system resume criminal proceedings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic won approval June 24 from the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors. The board approved the Presidential Task Force on Criminal Court Proceedings at the request of 2020-2021 State Bar President Larry McDougal, a Richmond … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court, in an order issued Friday, canceled the two-day in-person July Texas bar examination in response to accelerating COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions in the state. The court directed the Texas Board of Law Examiners (BLE) to keep plans for a two-day September in-person exam “subject to guidance from public health authorities” … Continue Reading
Law school does not prepare you for the day your government says: “Everyone is ordered to stay home indefinitely.” The stay-at-home orders issued during the coronavirus pandemic shone a light on just how unprepared a large thriving personal injury law firm was for an event of this nature. However, it also gave us a chance … Continue Reading
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, a joint initiative of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and local Dallas law firms are hosting virtual clinics every Thursday in July.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court of Texas on Monday issued its 18th Emergency Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order amends existing provisions from the 17th Emergency Order issued May 26. According to a Supreme Court Advisory on the order, the notable changes are: Modifications of civil- and criminal-case deadlines and procedures extended no later than … Continue Reading
