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
The Texas Office of Court Administration, or OCA, signed a new contract with Tyler Technologies to continue eFileTexas through 2027. “We’ve achieved a great deal of success for our courts through the use of eFileTexas,” David Slayton, OCA administrative director, said in a press release. “Electronic filing has been key to the Texas judiciary’s ability … Continue Reading
Texas courts held more than 10,000 hearings over the past two weeks through Zoom licenses issued by the Office of Court Administration, the OCA reported Thursday. Judges spent a combined 22,700 hours in hearings with nearly 51,000 participants over that period, according to the OCA. This week, the OCA released a video highlighting Texas courts’ transition to … 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
Attorneys are “essential” workers during the COVID-19 pandemic because they support the operations of the judicial system, but they still should work remotely from home if possible and practice social distancing in the interest of public health, according to updated guidance from the Office of Court Administration. The OCA issued a revised Travel Authorization letter … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on Friday. We hope this message finds you safe and well. We are writing to share the latest updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Orders and Travel Authorization for Lawyers Many … Continue Reading
Texas lawyers should lead by example with telework, alternatives to in-person meetings, and social distancing but also must be permitted to practice law free from local stay-at-home orders, according to the Office of Court Administration, as it acknowledged that the need for legal services only increases in a disaster like the COVID-19 pandemic. “Lawyers and … Continue Reading
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: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on Monday. As the State Bar of Texas and Texas courts continue to adjust operations to the new realities of the coronavirus pandemic, we are reaching out to share important updates. MCLE Deadlines Extended We … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas leadership sent the following message to members on Friday. We are writing with an update on the State Bar of Texas’ coronavirus response efforts. As of the end of this week, all State Bar live events scheduled through the end of March—including TexasBarCLE live courses—have been postponed in … Continue Reading
The Office of Court Administration has released updated guidance for Texas courts, clerks and staff on novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here to read the new guidance. For information on court closures reported to the OCA, click here.… Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on March 10. Dear State Bar of Texas members, I’m writing to update you on the State Bar’s response to concerns related to the coronavirus. At this time all State Bar offices are operating at full capacity to serve … Continue Reading
The Office of Court Administration, the Texas Judiciary, and the Texas Judicial Council have released the Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary Fiscal Year 2019 with data from every level of court.… Continue Reading
Six Texas judges will attend the National Judicial College’s flagship general jurisdiction course in Reno, Nevada, in 2018 thanks to a $12,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation.… Continue Reading
