Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht will receive the Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award from the Texas Bar Foundation at the Texas Bar Foundation Annual Dinner on June 10 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston. The award recognizes an active federal or state judge who exudes a reputation for competency, efficiency, and … Continue Reading
Megan LaVoie has been appointed Office of Court Administration administrative director effective December 1. LaVoie replaces Interim Administrative Director Mena Ramón, who has been serving in the role since August 2021 when David Slayton left the position to become vice president of court consulting services for the National Center for State Courts.… Continue Reading
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Evan Young as his appointment to the Supreme Court of Texas on November 1, 2021, to fill the seat vacated by Justice Eva Guzman when she resigned in June 2021. “Evan Young is a proven legal scholar and public servant, making him an ideal pick for the Supreme Court of Texas,” … Continue Reading
The Texas judiciary announced that the state’s judges have held over one million court hearings via Zoom. The milestone was reached after more than 2,000 state judges used the platform to host virtual proceedings since the pandemic began in March 2020. The one millionth Zoom hearing was held by Johnson County Court at Law Judge … Continue Reading
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation will host a virtual Justice Jam emceed by Supreme Court of Texas Justice Eva Guzman at noon on May 20. Texas Supreme Court justices and Texas lawyers will perform in the first-of-a-kind event to raise funds for emergency legal aid work supported by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.… Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The Texas Supreme Court issued the following advisory. Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht ordered the Supreme Court Building indefinitely closed to the public Wednesday in expanding efforts to thwart spread of COVID-19. The State Preservation Board also closed the adjacent Capitol complex. Under an order issued late Tuesday the Texas Supreme Court emphasized … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court welcomed Jane Bland to the bench in a ceremony September 11 at its chambers in Austin. Administering the oath was Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Bland to the bench, describing her previous work in the judiciary as “extraordinary.” Her experience includes 15 years as a judge on the 1st Court of … Continue Reading
The Supreme Court of Texas and State Bar of Texas welcomed the state’s newest members of the profession May 13 at the Frank Irwin Center in Austin. Texas’ highest courts, the State Bar, the Texas Board of Law Examiners, law school deans, and friends and family looked on as newly licensed attorneys took the Lawyer’s … Continue Reading
Judge Darlene Byrne, of the 126th Civil District Court in Travis County, and the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission presented its child welfare system report at the Texas Law Center in Austin on February 8. The report, Building a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System: A Blueprint, is a roadmap to better serving Texas children and families … Continue Reading
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht delivered the State of the Judiciary on February 6 at a joint session of the 86th Legislature at the Texas House chamber. Hecht discussed a number of issues facing the court system, asking for support on items such as response to natural disasters, bail reform, court treatment … Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court and State Bar of Texas welcomed newly licensed attorneys at the New Lawyer Induction ceremony November 19 at the Frank Irwin Center in Austin. Members of the Texas’ highest courts, deans from the state’s law schools, State Bar and Texas Board of Law Examiners officials, and friends and family watched as … Continue Reading
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association, or NLADA, honored and featured several notable Texans at its annual conference at the Westin Galleria in Houston in November. The event celebrates, advocates for, and educates on access to justice, bringing together legal aid and indigent defense lawyers from across the U.S.… Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals held a first-ever joint hearing on January 11 and established the Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The move came after hours of testimony from its supporters who say the time is now for the judiciary to step up its efforts in helping people with mental … Continue Reading
The newest group of Texas attorneys took the Lawyer’s Oath Monday morning at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. Members of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, deans from Texas law schools, and representatives from the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Board of Law Examiners welcomed hundreds of law … Continue Reading
The 10 members of the first cohort of the Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator received words of support and encouragement from the Texas Supreme Court on June 13, 2017. Justice Phil Johnson spoke to the group gathered in the courtroom and reminded them of their important role in helping those who need access to justice. … Continue Reading
On Monday a new group of Texas lawyers was sworn in at the New Lawyers Induction Ceremony. Friends and family gathered at the Erwin Center along with representatives from the State Bar of Texas, the state’s law schools, the Texas Board of Law Examiners, and members of the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of … Continue Reading
The Tarrant County Bar Foundation celebrated pro bono efforts and raised money to improve access to justice at its annual luncheon this month. The Advocates for Justice Luncheon October 13 in Fort Worth benefited the foundation’s pro bono and community service programs and recognized the work of LegalLine, Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans—Tarrant County Chapter, … Continue Reading
The Professionalism Committee of the State Bar of Texas has joined with Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for a video on the importance of mentoring and professionalism — and to promote the Transition to Practice program. The program matches newly licensed lawyers with experienced attorneys who volunteer their time and experience to … Continue Reading