OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | VOLUME 23 | NO. 6
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PRESIDENT'S PAGE LU PHAM
I
2023-2024 TCBA President
t’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here, and Christmas is just around the corner! Where has 2023 gone? The TCBA has been active this fall, and we are about to host many more events as we welcome the holiday season and close out the year. The TCBA organized a swearing in ceremony for new lawyers and their families at the Second Court of Appeals. It never gets old seeing spouses, parents and grandparents beaming with pride as their loved ones take the Attorney’s Oath. A special thank you to Judge Mark Pittman and all of our Justices from the Second Court of Appeals for welcoming our newest lawyers to the Bar. Our October membership luncheon, held at the Ashton Depot, hosted an esteemed panel of current and former Judges who shared their views from the bench. Judges Keltner, Wilkinson, Sturns, and Evans shared invaluable insights not only about the practice of law, but also law as a business. Both seasoned and new lawyers learned something from this amazing panel of judges. November started out a bit chilly, but the weather was perfect for the Bar Foundation’s first ever Fall Carnival, which raised funds for the Foundation’s community service and pro bono programs. Our members invited over 200 friends and families to gather at this fun-filled event at River Ranch Stockyards. There were plenty of games and festivities for everyone, and many of us tried our best to dunk our favorite judge! As 2023 comes to a close, the TCBA has an exciting lineup of events offering opportunities to network, celebrate, and support our community. We’re gearing up for TCBA’s Annual Holiday Party on December 7, featuring our second annual Tree Decorating Contest. All decorated trees will be donated to Justin’s Place, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping single moms walk out of a life of crisis through stable living, programming, and group-based mentoring. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Justin’s Place. Members can also make a monetary donation towards toy collection efforts by emailing laurensc@tarrantbar.org. As we close out 2023, a gentle reminder that it’s never too late to renew your TCBA membership so you can continue enjoying the benefits and participate in our events. Just go to tarrantbar.org and click on the “Explore Membership” tab at
the top of the website. It’s that easy! Looking further ahead, we’re excited to announce that the 2024 Bench Bar is moving to Frisco. In an effort to make it easier on our members to attend and increase judicial participation, we'll be at the Westin Stonebriar. The Bench Bar committee has been working hard on this year's theme — Saved by the Bar! (a play on Saved by the Bell). Everything will be 90’s themed, and the judges have all been issued “Detention Slips” letting them know that their presence is requested in Frisco. We’ll have a casino night, karaoke contest, golf tournament, and three tracks of CLE (family, criminal, and civil). Mark your calendars for April 12-14, 2024. Sponsorship opportunities will begin soon and registration opens in the new year! The TCBA and its sections are doing our very best to organize events that foster professional development, networking and social engagement. I hope that you will take some time off during this busy holiday season to unwind and enjoy the company of those around us. Wishing you and your family a festive holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2024. Chuc Mung Nam Moi! g
2024 Date Friday, April 12, 2024 - Sunday, April 14, 2024 Room The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa
More Details Coming Soon NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 3
Bulletin
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Contents Feature
Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 817.338.4092 ▪ www.tarrantbar.org 2023-2024 Officers
7 Civil Court Judicial Panel: Voir Dire Best Practices 13 TCBA Annual Holiday Party: Shimmer & Shine 17 30 Years of Legacy: Honoring Judge Mahon and
President.............................................................Lu Pham President-Elect........................................Scott Lindsey Vice President...............................Marvina Robinson Secretary-Treasurer..........................John Brookman
23 Mentor Monday Seminar Series with Steven C. Laird
Director......................................................Bryan Bruner Director..................................................Lyndsay Newell Director..................................................Angel Williams
Community Through Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court
and Guest Speaker Kleber C. Miller
25 Renewal of Attorney ID Badges 27 Pro Bono Awards of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation Departments 3 President’s Page 5 100 Club 6 YLA Snapshot 8 Snippets 11 Lawyer Referral & Information Service 12 Tarrant County Bar Foundation Room Rentals 14 Judicial Profile - Judge Chris Taylor 18 Lawyers on the Move & in the News 19 Membership Report 20 A Word From Our Sections 21 LegalLine 24 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 25 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Happy Holidays!
TCBA offices will be closed Monday, December 25 & Tuesday, December 26. Regular hours will resume on Wednesday, December 27. 4 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Directors (Term Ends 2024)
Directors (Term Ends 2025)
Director.........................................Robert Blankenship Director......................................................Joe Cleveland Director...................................................................Bill Ray 2023-2024 Appointed Directors
Appointed Director.........................Antoinette Bone Appointed Director......................................J. B. Strong Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
Fall 2023 President........................Elizabeth Haslam Fall 2023 President-Elect....................Ola Campbell State Bar of Texas Ex Officio Members
Director (Term Ends 2024).........Kimberly Naylor Director (Term Ends 2025)..................Jeff Cochran Bar Bulletin
Graphics/Production......................Elizabeth Banda The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a bi-monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Articles, photos, suggestions or comments should be directed to elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Tarrant County Bar Association, its officers or the Board of Directors. Advertisements and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event.
Members of the 2023-2024
100 Club
*List Reflected Below is as of November 25, 2023
Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C
K & L Gates LLP
Anderson & Cummings, LLP
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Baker Monroe, PLLC
KoonsFuller, P.C.
Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Blaies & Hightower, LLP
McDonald Sanders, P.C
Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP
Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC
Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.
Noteboom Law Firm
Brackett & Ellis, P.C.
Pham Harrison, LLP
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Ray | Peña | McChristian, P.C.
– Legal Department
Ross & Matthews P.C.
Decker Jones, P.C.
Second Court Of Appeals
Dismuke & Waters, P.C.
Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam, LLP
Forshey & Prostok, LLP
The Blum Firm, P.C.
Freeman Mills P.C.
The Colaneri Firm, P.C.
Friedman, Suder & Cooke
Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC
Griffith, Jay, & Michel, LLP
Underwood Law Firm, PLLC
Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.
Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP
Harrison Steck, P.C.
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Wick Phillips
Holland Johns & Penny LLP
Winstead PC
Jackson Walker To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law firm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department with four or more members must attain 100% TCBA membership compliance for the 2023-2024 bar year. This qualifies them for the “100 Club.” The firms/organizations listed above have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club membership for the new bar year.
Any firm/organization that qualifies in the future will have its name published in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for this bar year. TCBA takes pride in the participation of these law firms and other groups. The new bar year began on July 1. If you have not paid your renewal invoice, please contact our Membership Director, Lauren St. Clair, at 817.338.4092 or email her at laurensc@tarrantbar.org. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 5
YLA SNAPSHOT ELIZABETH HASLAM 2023-2024 TCYLA President
W
ith the holidays very quickly approaching, TCYLA is running like Rudolph as we gear up for the holiday rush.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS • November: Randy Turner on Service, Assistance and Emotional Support Animals - A special thanks to Mr. Turner for his great CLE presentation on Animal Law held on November 7 at Reata. We had a wonderful turnout to learn about this area of law.
GET READY FOR CHILI WARS! • Our Chili Cook-Off returns on Saturday, January 20 at Fort Brewery. This year, any profits will go to our mental health initiative, providing a series of mental health and wellness CLEs along with QPR Training to our members free of charge. Sign up at www.tarrantbar.org/TCYLA-Chili-2024.
• December and January: We will be taking a break from CLEs in December and January, but we will be back in February with all-new CLE speakers for 2024. If you have any topics you would like to see covered in a CLE, please reach out and let us know.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES • Holiday Happy Hour: Join us on December 12 for our Holiday Happy Hour! Light up the night and wear your ugliest holiday sweater. The winner will be chosen by cheers from attendees and will receive a prize. Stay tuned on our social media and email newsletter for the location announcement.
We wish you Happy Holidays and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events! g
2023-2024 TCYLA Board
President-Elect
Secretary-Treasurer
Director Joseph Austin
Director Sarah Brown
Director Paul Farmer, Jr.
Director Erika Flores
Director Stefan Garcia
Director John Kash
Kelsey Linendoll
Director
Director Scott Prescher
Director Marylynn Smitherman
Director Emily Steppick
Director Sara Vargas
Student Liasion Madison Abatti
Ola Campbell
John Easter
6 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Snippets
Co-Editor Judge Carey Walker, County Criminal Court No. 2
Civil and Criminal
by Judge Bob McCoy g County Criminal Court No. 3
ASK JUDGE BOB
Judge Bob, when is a defendant entitled to an instruction on a defensive issue? “Defendant is entitled to an instruction on every defensive issue raised by the evidence, regardless of whether the evidence is strong, feeble, unimpeached, or contradicted, and even when the trial court thinks that the testimony is not worthy of belief.” Rogers v. State, 664 S.W.3d 843, 849 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
IN MEMORIAM MOSES (2013-2023) A true gentle giant.
facilities are responsible for most cruelty and neglect complaints. —SB 876
CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1.The Corpus Delicti Rule
The corpus delicti rule is a judicial rule of evidentiary sufficiency “affecting cases in which there is an extrajudicial confession.” It requires that, “when a conviction is based on a defendant’s extrajudicial confession, that confession does not constitute legally sufficient evidence of guilt without corroborating evidence independent of that confession showing that the essential nature of the offense was committed.” Shumway v. State, 663 S.W.3d 69 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
2. Error preservation
A friend to all he met. The finest animal I have ever had the pleasure of being around.
INTRODUCING... ELIJAH!
Preservation requirements ensure that the judicial system is not burdened by costly appeals and time-consuming retrials. A timely objection allows the trial court an opportunity to prevent or correct errors. Such a requirement also “guarantees that opposing counsel will have a fair opportunity to respond to complaints,” and “promotes the orderly and effective presentation of the case to the trier of fact.” Garcia v. State, 663 S.W.3d 92 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
3. Character evidence Elijah
Abigail & Bathsheba
Noah
THE PACK’S MONTHLY PARAPROSDAKIAN (a figure of speech in which
the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous) Growing old is tough; not growing old is worse.
THE PACK’S QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Among God’s creatures, two, the dog and the guitar, have taken all the sizes and all the shapes, in order not to be separated from the man. —Andres Segovia, New York Times, 1964
WHAT’S NEW IN ANIMAL LAW?
The legislature has updated the 2011 Dog or Cat Breeders Act, Chapter 802 of the Texas Occupations Code and, among other things, reduced the required number of animals being bred to bring breeders under the act, because unlicensed breeding 8 www.tarrantbar.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
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Character evidence is generally inadmissible because it may “weigh too much with the jury” and encourage it “to prejudge one with a bad general record and deny him the fair opportunity to defend against a particular charge.” Valdez v. State, 663 S.W.3d 133 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
4. Statutory construction
Under canons of statutory construction, a reviewing court is to construe a statute according to its plain language unless the language is ambiguous, or the interpretation would lead to absurd results that the Legislature could not have intended. Mason v. State, 663 S.W.3d 621 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
5. Evidence
Direct evidence and circumstantial evidence are equally probative, and circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to uphold a conviction. David v. State, 663 S.W.3d 673 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
6. Double Jeopardy
The guarantee against double jeopardy affords three basic protections: (1) against prosecution a second time for the “same”
offense after an acquittal; (2) against prosecution a second time for the “same” offense after a conviction; and (3) against multiple punishments for the “same” offense. Nawaz v. State, 663 S.W.3d 739 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
7. Self-representation
“When a criminal defendant chooses to waive his right to counsel and represent himself, the waiver should be made ‘knowingly and intelligently,’ and he should be warned of the ‘dangers and disadvantages’ accompanying such waiver” so that “the record will establish that ‘he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with open eyes.” Osorio-Lopez v. State, 663 S.W.3d 750 (Tex.Crim.App. 2022).
CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Local Law
scheme. Sidetracked Bar, LLC v. Hegar, 665 S.W.3d 81, 87 (Tex.App.—Austin 2022).
6. Court Orders
When interpreting court orders, we avoid elevating form over substance. Serafine v. Crump, 665 S.W.3d 93 (Tex.App.— Austin 2023).
7. Agency Rule
State administrative agencies have only those powers that the legislature expressly confers upon them and those implied powers that are reasonably necessary to carry out their express functions or duties. Absent specific or implied statutory authority, an agency rule is invalid. Texas DFPS v. Grassroots Leadership, Inc., 665 S.W.3d 135, 143 (Tex.App.—Austin 2023).
Whether a state statute preempts a local regulation is legal question that a court reviews de novo. The party seeking to avoid enforcement of a local law bears the burden of establishing that state law preempts it. Houston v. Houston Professional Fire Fighters, 664 S.W.3d 790, 804 (Tex. 2023).
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
2. Venue
COWBOY CODE
If the trial court’s venue determination is challenged on appeal from a final judgment, “the appellate court shall consider the entire record, including the trial on the merits” in its review. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 15.064(b). Section 15.064 “allows appellate review of venue on a basis different from that on which it was decided”. Fortenberry v Great Divide Insurance Co., 664 S.W. 3d 807, 811 (Tex. 2023).
The law and medicine should be very serious professions to undertake, should they not? People’s lives and fortunes depend on them. —George Eliot “I was raised with real cowboys. The real good cowboys are honest. The only contract they had was a handshake. Back in them days, a handshake was a big deal. It don’t mean nothing now—it means you might catch something.” —Kelly Scott g RISK-TAKING CAN BE FUN...
3. Venue
There is no categorical prohibition against a hotel serving as one’s residence. Fortenberry v Great Divide Insurance Co., 664 S.W. 3d 807, 813 (Tex. 2023).
4. Purposeful-Availment
A defendant establishes minimum contacts with a state when it “purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws. Three principles guide the purposeful-availment analysis: (1) “only the defendant’s contacts with the forum” are relevant—not the unilateral activity of another party or third person; (2) the defendant’s acts must be “purposeful” and not “random, isolated, or fortuitous”; and (3) the defendant “must seek some benefit, advantage, or profit by ‘availing’ itself of the jurisdiction” such that it impliedly consents to suit there. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft v. State, 665 S.W.3d 22, 31 (Tex.App.—Austin 2020).
5. A Statute’s Meaning
Undefined terms are afforded their ordinary meaning unless a different or more precise definition is apparent from the context of the statute. If an undefined term has multiple common meanings, it is not necessarily ambiguous; rather, we will apply the definition most consistent with the context of the statutory
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 9
Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
The Tarrant County Bar Association, established in 1904, is a professional organization comprised of over 2,400 lawyers, judges, law students, and other legal professionals in and around Tarrant County. It offers the best way to connect with the legal community.
For questions about TCBA membership or programs, please contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.
10 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
John H. Cayce Chief Justice (Ret.), Second Court of Appeals recipient of the
2023 Rosewood Gavel Award
St. Mary’s University School of Law annually presents the award to “an outstanding judge or justice in recognition of his or her contribution to our constitutional democracy.” To view the complete list of past recipients, click here.
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP . 201 Main Street . Fort Worth, TX . 76102 AUAU S T I N | F O RT WO RT H | M I D L A N D | B ATO N R O U G E | N E W O R L E A N S
For room rental reservations, contact Tracy Card at tracy@tarrantbar.org. As appropriate, TCBF may charge $45 as an hourly rate for the above-referenced areas. This rate only applies to a 1-hour use of the room. If a request for rental space use outside of regular hours can be accommodated, there will be an additional fee of $36 per hour per each staff member utilized outside of regular office hours. The number of necessary staff members to accommodate the request shall be determined by the Executive Director. Social, Charitable, and Judicial/Political receptions are $640 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. After 9 p.m., there is an additional fee of $128 per hour rental fee. All events must end by midnight. (An $8 parking fee per space per day (or $2 per hour) will be added to the bill for each rental.) 12 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
HOLIDAY PARTY COMMITTEE
I
By Will Higgins, Holiday Party Committee Chair
TCBA Annual Holiday Party: Shimmer & Shine
t’s that time of year again! The TCBA is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual Holiday Party on December 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, and we look forward to your presence! This event is free to all TCBA members, and this year, we are embracing the festive spirit with the theme “Shimmer & Shine”. From shimmering lights to opulent décor, join us for a chance to win door prizes that add an extra touch of sparkle to your holiday season. Our tree decorating contest is making a triumphant return for its 2nd year! TCBA sections and committee members will
vie for your vote to determine the champion that’ll hold bragging rights until next year. As a bonus, all sponsored trees will be donated to Justin’s Place, a local non-profit organization that provides resources to single mothers and families in need within the Stop Six community. Secure your spot now for an event you won’t want to miss! If you’re interested in sponsoring this event or have any inquiries about the Holiday Party Committee, reach out to Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.
Register at www.tarrantbar.org/HolidayParty2023
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 13
JUDICIAL PROFILE
By Perry Cockerell, Perry Cockerell, P.C.
Judge Chris Taylor, 48th District Court
J
udge Chris Taylor, 48th Dis- served as Chairman of the Board of Barristers and as a comment trict Court, comes from a fa- editor for Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal. He graduated mily that knows what it is like from Texas Tech Law School in 2010. to sacrifice time with family to serve After law school, Taylor returned to Fort Worth and his country and community. His worked for three years at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP in corporate father was on active duty with the litigation. Army, stationed in Alabama, when In 2013, he joined Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP, where he he was born at the military hospital primarily handled general litigation matters and school law. at Carswell Air Force Base on In 2018, with eight years of civil litigation experience, he September 19, 1982. joined the Civil Division in the Tarrant County Criminal “I like to joke because every-one now knows that hospital District Attorney’s Office, advising the Tarrant County Commto be a women’s prison, but I assure you that it was a hospital issioner’s Court and representing Tarrant County in litigation before that.” matters. “I advised the commissioners and county judge on His older brother, Michael, was born in Germany. Taylor legal and policy issues as well as other elected officials and grew up living in Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. While in county employees.” Newport News, Virginia, Taylor began his education at Greenwood Elementary School. In the third grade, his family moved Appointment to the 48th District Court to Enterprise, Alabama, where he attended Rucker Boulevard In 2022, when Judge David Evans retired, Governor Greg Elementary School and Dauphin Junior High School. After Abbott appointed Taylor to the 48th District Court. Judge his father retired from the Army, his family settled in Fort Evans had served on the court since 2003. Taylor was sworn Worth. into office in November 2022 and faced no opponent in the Taylor attended and played football at Southwest High November general election. He was elected for the remaining School, where he graduated in 2001. He also had two children term of Judge Evans and is currently on the ballot to serve his while in high school. Taylor states that he was forced to grow first full term. up quickly to financially provide for and be a role model for his children. In his senior year, he injured his knee while Trials playing football. The knee injury would become difficult to When asked about life in the 48th District Court, Judge heal. After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves Taylor said that he is usually in trial on Mondays. “The week and was sent to basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit before that, I try to read through the cases that are called to Depot in San Diego, California. During basic training, he trial. I typically like to call somewhere between one and three re-injured his knee and was unable to timely complete boot trials to be prepared for trial on Monday.” camp according to his contract. He was given a medical Many cases settle before trial, the Judge said. The Judge discharge in September 2001, just before 9/11. His life would will preferentially set Level 3 cases that he knows will be tried. have taken a completely different turn but for his knee injury. “I typically do not call other cases behind it.” He said that the Returning home, he began his college studies at Tarrant cases going to trial in his court were filed from 2020 to 2021, County College, South Campus, while working at Radio with some exceptions. “COVID-19 paused the court system Shack. In 2003, he transferred to the University of North Texas for two years. I've been really pushing to clear those now and to work on a degree in Political Science. At North Texas, he my staff has done a tremendous job. I had one three-week became interested in moot court. Taylor was a three-year jury trial, but most cases are one and two-day jury trials.” regional qualifier for the national moot court competition and was the 2006-2007 regional champion. He graduated college in Motions Heard by Submission 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Due to his undergraduate The Judge said that he hears some motions by submission. performance, he received a full scholarship to Texas Tech Law “I take them via submission. I have a deadline. I will get the School in Lubbock, Texas. motion, response, and reply, and all the evidence together. If During law school, Taylor continued to compete in moot a party prefers to be heard, I don’t decline them. But typically, court competitions and secured a spot on several traveling moot it allows me to really digest the information, read everything, court teams. In his second and third years of law school, he and understand the legal issues. Some of the more complex 14 www.tarrantbar.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪
cases, like commercial cases, are typically going to need to be heard.” Unless he is in trial, he reserves three days a week for hearings. “Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays are typically my hearing days where I hear the other motions or things that affect the trial.” When not in trial, he spends his time examining dispositive motions, such as summary judgment motions or pleas to the jurisdiction.
Updating the Tarrant County Local Rules
The Judge does not have a local rule for his court. He follows the Tarrant County Local Rules adopted in 1999. However, he has been tasked to update the 1999 local rules. “I am now reviewing the civil rules here in Tarrant County to update them.”
Advice for Attorneys
“Be prepared and be cognizant of the court’s time. I do read everything, and I try to make sure everybody has their say. I really try my best to give everybody their time in court and the ability to be heard.” His best advice is to “condense your argument, know where you want to go, and what you need to prove. Be precise and nuanced. I do read the law, and I want to make sure that I
understand everyone’s argument, and what exactly I need to consider to determine their particular issue.” The Judge advised attorneys to “always bring an order to court.”
Personal
The Judge is married to Courtney Taylor. They have three children from Taylor’s prior marriage. In his spare time, Judge Taylor likes to read, teach, and enjoy movies. “I love movies and I love reading philosophy. I’m reading Nicomachean Ethics, which is ethics from Aristotle. I think that responsibility and ethics lend itself to the practice of law.” He currently teaches business law at Texas Christian University and coaches an undergraduate moot court team at the University Texas at Arlington. g
Happy Holidays
from the Tarrant County Bar Association Staff!
Carolina, Elizabeth, Gracie, Kayla, Laura, Lauren, Sarah, and Tracy
131 E. Exchange Avenue, Suite 132, Fort Worth, Texas 76164 - (817) 773 - 4235
Best Legal Newspaper In Tarrant County Let Us Expertly Publish All Of Your Legal Notices At The Same Rates As Our Competitor Visit Us On The Web To View All Available Services www.tarrantcountycommercialrecord.com (817) 773 - 4235 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15
David E. Keltner
Ranked #1 2023 Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters
201 Main Street, Suite 2500 | Fort Worth, TX | 76102 www.kellyhart.com | 817-332-2500
AUSTIN | FORT WORTH | MIDLAND | BATON ROUGE | NEW ORLEANS
16 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
ELDON B. MAHON INN OF COURT
By Tori Rhodes, Mock Trial Committee Member
30 Years of Legacy: Honoring Judge Mahon and Community Through Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court Region 11 Texas High School Mock Trial Competition Dates
Saturday, January 27, 2024 and Friday, February 2, 2024
T
his year marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court. For the past three decades Mahon Inn has allowed attorneys and judges in Tarrant County to honor the Inn’s namesake, Judge Mahon, by providing programs that benefit the Tarrant County community. Born in 1918, Judge Mahon was part of America’s Greatest Generation and carried this badge of honor through his lifelong dedication to community service and leadership. Judge Mahon held numerous roles in public office which culminated in his ultimate appointment as United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas from 1972 to 2002. Perhaps Judge Mahon’s most notable legal achievement was his 19 years of work to desegregate schools in Fort Worth. Mahon, in a 2002 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, was quoted as saying “I feel more satisfied about the progress we made within the Fort Worth school district than with anything else that I dealt with in court.”1 In his private life, Judge Mahon devoted countless hours of volunteer work to various community groups.2 Carrying forward Judge Mahon’s commitment to the community, the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court honors its namesake, by hosting an annual High School Mock Trial Competition. Each year students from all over Texas represent their schools and compete in a series of mock trials. Through a grant from the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, the Mahon Inn hosts Region 11’s mock trial competition for students
from Tarrant County and surrounding counties. On Saturday, January 27, 2024 and Friday, February 2, 2024, high school teams will compete in actual courtrooms in the Tarrant County Family Court Building. Members of the Mahon Inn volunteer their time to serve as judges and coaches to help local students compete in the Mock Trial Competition. It is not too late for teams/coaches/volunteers to sign up. If you or someone you know would like to participate in this year’s Mock Trial Competition, please reach out for details. g
___________________ Retired Federal Judge Dies, My Plainview, Dec. 3, 2005 https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Retiredfederal-judge-dies-8602930.php (last visited Oct. 30, 2023). 2 H.R. 1801, 107th Cong. (2001), https://www.govinfo.gov/ content/pkg/CRECB-2001-pt6/html/CRECB-2001-pt6Pg8544.htm (last visited Oct. 30, 2023). 1
2024-2025 TCBA Director Candidate Request If you are interested in serving on the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Board of Directors, please download and complete the Director Candidate Request Form. All candidates must be an attorney in good standing with the Tarrant County Bar Association for the preceding three years. The election for the 2023-2024 Board of Directors will be held in April 2023. For further details, please reach out to Kayla Dailey via email at kayla@tarrantbar.org. Deadline to submit the TCBA Director Request and Biography is noon on January 19, 2024. Download form at www.tarrantbar.org/DirectorRequest24. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 17
Welcome
New Members of the TCBA:
LAWYERS ON THE MOVE &
in the News
ATTORNEYS
Brianna Bustamante Michael Cassidy Madeline D'Alise Kiala Ellingson Emily Ledford Brittany McAfee Katherine Messina Meredith Milton Franceska Payen Michelle Purvis Heather Raiden Melanie Terrell Elaine Weathers Brooke Willis Joseph Wolf
ASSOCIATE
Matthew Hanvey Kim Jone
LEGAL STAFF Ryann Crocker Laura Escobedo Abigail Garcia
Emily Garza
From Left: Wendy Shaw (CEO Longhorn Council BSA) 2023 Law Good Scout Award Recipient Bill Greenhill, and Joe Gallagher (2022 Law Good Scout Award Recipient and 2023 Event Chair)
AJ Marquette
Bourland, Wall & Wenzel would like to welcome Brackett & Ellis is pleased to welcome Alyssa J. our newest associate attorney, Emily Garza. Ms. Marquette to the firm. AJ is a 2021 graduate of Garza graduated magna cum laude from Texas Texas A&M University School of Law, where she A&M School of Law and recently passed the July received her Juris Doctorate cum laude. AJ’s practice 2023 Texas Bar Exam. Her practice has primarily is focused on the area of real estate. She can be focused on general civil litigation, including matters reached at amarquettebelaw.com or 817.339.2453. involving fiduciary litigation and disputes concerning probate, guardianships, and trusts. Ms. Garza Haynes and Boone, LLP Counsel Bill Greenhill has experience assisting clients at all stages of the received the 2023 Law Good Scout Award from the litigation process and works diligently to obtain Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America. the best outcome for her clients. She can be reached This award is presented to a respected law profat 301 Commerce Street Suite 2500, Fort Worth, essional in who is known for integrity, strong character, and community involvement. TX 76102, 817.877.1088.
Welcome 1L Students
FACULTY
Melissa Davis Tanya Pierce Jason Shuntawana
LAWYERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE NEWS If you are a TCBA member and would like to place an announcement in the Bar Bulletin, we would like to hear from you. Please submit information by email to Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director, at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org
18 www.tarrantbar.org
Ashley Adaszczyk
Avery Foy
Colin Mayer
Shane Reynolds
Amanda Arrington
Lexton Garrett
Mallory McCarthy
Albert Sanchez
Marissa Battin
Hallie Green
Oghenekaro Memesi
Katherine Slaughter
Troy Bradshaw
Madison Guzman
Sarah Morton
Tanner Smith
Alpesh Chapagai
Benjamin Hunter
Irene Newman
Riley Smith
Uriel De La Rosa
Erin Kelley
James O'Donnell
Emily Sullivan
Brandon DeVaney
Donald Kingsley
Jasal Patel
Richard Taylor
Ava DiNunzio
Bhavya Krishnan
Jose Pena
Savannah Wallace
Devin Dowling
Alex Lopez Lena
Blyss Rees
Anya Ye
Alex Dye
Kendall Madden
Hannah Reigle
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Registration Coming Soon
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
By Lauren St. Clair, Membership Director
Reflections of Gratitude: A Year in Review with TCBA and Exciting Festivities Ahead!
T
his time of year always provides ample opportunity to reflect on what we’re grateful for. As 2023 comes to a close, the TCBA expresses tremendous gratitude for members like you and for your support. The TCBA had a busy fall season, hosting various section-led CLE seminars and continuing the Mentor Monday Seminar Series with stellar co-mentors including the Honorable L. Clifford Davis, State Bar of Texas President Cindy Tisdale, and featuring Kleber Miller in January 2024. The second annual Boo at the Bar event took place on October 27, with over a dozen Tarrant County Judges in attendance. Additionally, we welcomed many new attorneys at our Swearing-In Ceremony for newly licensed attorneys on October 23. Be sure to register for the annual Holiday Party, to be held
here at the TCBA on December 7! Sponsorship opportunities and additional information can be found on the TCBA website’s event registration page. TCBA sections and local firm members carried on the tradition from last year’s event by participating in a tree decorating contest. All trees will be displayed at the Holiday Party and then donated to Justin’s Place – a local nonprofit organization providing resources to single mothers and families in the Stop Six Community. The Holiday Party is free for members to attend, but we kindly request that you bring a new, unwrapped toy as your admittance ticket. All toy donations will also benefit Justin’s Place. We extend our warmest wishes to you and hope to see you at our upcoming events! g
Advertise
in TCBA’s Bar Bulletin The Tarrant County Bar Association’s award winning* Bar Bulletin is a multi-faceted journal that is published six times a year for the TCBA’s members. It includes substantive articles, as well as information about membership events and activities. The Bar Bulletin is distributed digitally and by hard copy to the TCBA’s membership. Each issue reaches an average of 2500 readers through email and social media. It is available online on the TCBA’s website.
BEST OVERALL NEWSLETTER Advertising rates vary, depending on the size and frequency. Rates are available by contacting Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. *TCBA’s Bar Bulletin received the 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 Division III “Stars of Texas Bars Award for Best Overall Newsletter” from the State Bar of Texas. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19
. . . AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SECTIONS
T
By Chris Lankford, Lankford Law Firm Criminal Law Section Chair
The Criminal Law Section’s Year Ahead
he Criminal Law Section is hard at work planning for the 2023-24 year. I would like to recognize our current board members. I will be serving as Chair. Cami Gildner, Attorney at The Law Office of Cami Gildner, will be serving as the Vice Chair. Craig Foster, Staff Attorney for the Second Court of Appeals, will be serving as Secretary, and Collin Ashworth, Assistant District Attorney for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, will be serving as Treasurer. We believe the diversity in our board will bring great value to all of our criminal law members. Our goal is to expand the activities and involvement of the section this year. We have ambitious plans and we hope that all of our members are as excited as we are about the upcoming year. We would like to thank our outgoing Chair, Cody Cofer, for helping to put our future plans in motion.
Building Camaraderie We believe that building camaraderie among the members is an important function of the Section. The Section will be hosting a happy hour/section meeting at Rogers Roundhouse in December. Be on the lookout for an email announcing the date and time. This Section meeting will kick off the new year with an open bar, appetizers, and a vote to approve our Section Bylaws. Section Awards Perhaps our biggest addition, the Section is introducing awards to recognize our outstanding members. We will be
presenting awards for 2023 Criminal Lawyer of the Year and 2023 Mentor of the Year. Nominations will open in January 2024, and Section members will vote on the winners. Start thinking about which members you will be voting for!
CLE The Section is planning CLE that will benefit all of its members. Whether you are a prosecutor, defense attorney, staff attorney, or judiciary, the CLE offered will be beneficial to everyone. After recent, tragic losses in our community, we will include CLE that focuses on wellness and mental health. This is an issue that our board is passionate about. TCBA Christmas Tree The Section is sponsoring a Christmas tree for the TCBA Christmas Party. Sections will compete against each other in a tree-decorating contest. This year’s theme is “Shimmer & Shine.” After the TCBA Christmas Party, the trees will be donated to Justin’s Place for families in need. More updates on our Section activities will be coming out shortly. We look forward to seeing our members at all of these events! g
By Tracy Card, Office Manager
Seasonal Reflections: Connect, Celebrate, Join Us!
T
he cooler temperatures bring with them a sense of reflection, a time to ponder on the year and cherish moments with family and friends. In this season, I hope that you can also take advantage of spending time with
your legal families by enjoying some of the special holiday gathering that are being held by the sections. Be sure to check out our extensive list of CLE events available on our website. We hope to see you there! g
Save the Date for TCBF’s Upcoming Event
Save the Date for TCBA’s Upcoming Event
Pro Bono Awards Luncheon
50 Year Attorney Luncheon
Thursday, January 4, 2024 | City Club 20 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 | City Club
. . . AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SECTIONS
By Heidi M. Angel, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Women Attorneys Section Chair
Women Attorney Section’s 2023-24 Highlights
T
he Women Attorneys Section is looking forward to a great 2023-24 term with a continued commitment to offering high value CLE opportunities for our members as well as social and networking events to connect with a variety of other professionals involved within the Tarrant County legal community. I am currently serving as the chair of the section joined by our Vice Chair, Malorie Crosley, and Immediate Past Chair, Caroline Harrison, alongside a dynamic board that includes Shelli Harveson, Rachel Saltsman, Lauren Sorokolit, Nancy Ribaudo, Kathy Ehmann-Clardy, and Kara McHorse. What I enjoy most about being involved in this section is having the opportunity to connect with attorneys practicing law in a wide variety of ways from solo practitioners to midand large-firm practices and in-house counsel positions as well as from diverse practice areas. Coming from an estate planning practice at a larger firm, I find it so interesting to hear about a fellow attorney’s day as a criminal defense attorney in a solo firm or an in-house attorney with a bank or hospital system. I think our members appreciate these interactions and value opportunities to broaden their perspectives on the practice of law. So many of us in the legal community comment regularly on the collegiality of the Tarrant County Bar and the Women Attorneys Section is no exception. The prior bar year found us playing pickleball, co-hosting
LegalLine Legal
a social event with the Solo and Small Firm section, hosting a CLE panel on several areas of law, including Immigration, Employment, Family, and Probate, as well as hosting our annual Holiday Sip and Shop Event at the City Club of Fort Worth in December. We held a happy hour event at Wines From A Broad in downtown Fort Worth and continue to actively seek opportunities to support local women-owned businesses and initiatives in Tarrant County. We recently held a networking event with the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association. Whether you fell outside of the age range for TCYLA like I do or you were newer to practice, we hope you joined us to connect with some new and old colleagues. This year year,we wewill once again This again be hosted hostingour our Holiday Holiday Sip Sip and Shop atThe theevent City Club of Fort Worth. The event1,provided Shop. will take place on December 3-6 p.m.,an at opportunity our members shopprovides and mingle while enjoyCity Club offor Fort Worth. Thistoevent an opportunity ing our lightmembers bites andtochampagne. A heartfelt you light goes for shop and mingle whilethank enjoying out toand ourchampagne. incredible sponsors support and bites Many offor ustheir lookgenerous forward to this event contributions. every year as a festive kickoff to the holiday season. I hope to If youofwere a section member in the1 past have not see many my colleagues on December at thebut City Club! participated this ayear, we would loveintothe welcome youhave backnot as If you were section member past but a member. Ithis hope youwewill consider renewing your participated year, would love toeither welcome you back as joining first time so that you canyour take amembership member. I or hope you for willthe consider either renewing advantage of or alljoining of the wonderful has to membership for the firstthings time sothis thatsection you can take offer. g advantage of all of the wonderful things this section has to offer. g By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director
Looking for a New Way to Volunteer this Bar Year?
W
hen you volunteer for LegalLine, you get to work out of the comfort of your own home or office and speak with people needing assistance in your
THANK YOU TO OUR RECENT LEGALLINE VOLUNTEERS* John Barnes Nick Bettinger Robert Blankenship Julie Camacho
Ndidi Gbulie Angelia Megahan Karon Rowden Melissa Sircar
practice area. Thank you to the attorneys who have volunteered in the last two months. If you want to know about volunteering for LegalLine, email sarah@tarrantbar.org. g
Upcoming Remote LegalLine Volunteer Dates December 14, 2023 January 25, 2024 February 8, 2024 January 11, 2024 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21
Tarrant County Bar Association LAWYER REFERRAL & INFORMATION SERVICE The Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) is a service of the Tarrant County Bar Association that benefits both TCBA member attorneys and the public. TCBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service is completely customizable for participating attorneys with:
29
&
practice areas
330 600
Panels by Numbers* Civil
Consumer
Landlord/ Tenant
1665 Referrals
more than
1119 Referrals
specialized practice areas from which to choose
LRIS averages more than
Family Law
Probate
calls each month
716 Referrals
Personal Injury
Time Frame: January 2022-December 2022
443 Referrals
Approved by the American Bar Association, LRIS allows member attorneys to receive client referrals and build their business, while helping callers quickly find an attorney in the area of law they need.
Labor/ Employment 407 Referrals
1648 Referrals
1057 Referrals
Criminal
448 Referrals
Real Estate
414 Referrals
Insurance
347 Referrals
The program is intended to help individuals who are TCBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service is able to pay normal attorney fees but have difficulty in need of attorneys specializing in the following finding legal representation due to lack of experience areas of practice: with the legal system, lack of information about needed services, or fear of costs. Membership costs • Identity Theft range $150 - $200 annually.
• Collection Against Debtors
For more information about LRIS membership, please visit www.tarrantbar.org/JoinLRIS or contact lris@tarrantbar.org. *Time Frame: January 2022-March 2023 22 www.tarrantbar.org
• Criminal Appeals • Auto Repair Dispute Questions about how to help? Please contact lris@tarrantbar.org.
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 23
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services
By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director
2023 Pro Bono Award Spotlight
JULIE SLADEK
ATTORNEY MENTOR AWARD
J
ulie Sladek has been volunteering with TCBA for the last 17 years, and she has been volunteering with TVAS for the last 6 years. Julie has seen the need for pro bono attorneys first-hand through her work in the public sector. Julie sees a great need for resources to access the legal system in Tarrant County and appreciates being able to give back to the community through a resource like TVAS. Julie enjoys volunteering with TVAS because it allows her to help families and individuals in need of legal assistance and to mentor other attorneys. Julie graduated from Texas Tech School of Law and has been practicing law in Tarrant County since 2006. She started her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Family Violence Protective Order and Mental Health Units with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
Julie has worked with legal issues that impact older and disabled adults in the community through her work as a Regional Attorney for DFPS, Adult Protective Services and with individuals and families impacted by mental health events through the Tarrant County Medical-Legal Partnership with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and My Health My Resources of Tarrant County. She has continued her work with individuals with disabilities and older adults in her role with Guardianship Services, Inc., overseeing alternatives to guardianship in their money management programs and by providing education, prevention, and assistance to the community through the Financial Exploitation Prevention Center. “A minimal time commitment in Pro Bono legal clinics and through direct representation makes a lasting difference to the lives of many.” “I have been fortunate to have many mentors in my career and I enjoy being able to give back and provide assistance to other attorneys.” g
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Thank you to Kelly Hart for sponsoring December’s Gatehouse Wills Clinic.
24 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
TEXAS LAWYERS FOR TEXAS VETERANS TARRANT COUNTY CHAPTER By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director
2023 Pro Bono Award Spotlight
JOHN CORBIN
ATTORNEY VOLUNTEER AWARD A native of Fort Worth, Texas, John serves on that group’s planning committee. has been a general practitioner of civil law He has periodically volunteered with here since January 2003. He earned a JD LegalLine. John is a member of the bar degree from Texas Wesleyan University association’s Transition to Practice ComSchool of Law (now Texas A&M University mittee, Bench Bar Conference ComSchool of Law) and obtained his Texas law mittee, and Holiday Party Committee. license in 2002. John is a longtime member He holds a bachelor of arts and master of of the Tarrant County Bar Association and arts degrees in journalism, and a master is a Bar Foundation Fellow. of public administration degree, all from Soon after being licensed, John briefly the University of Oklahoma. He earned a ohn Corbin has been volunteering with Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, performed as a volunteer attorney with Doctor of Philosophy Degree in political Tarrant County Chapter, for 13 years. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. Since 2010, economy from the University of Texas He became interested in volunteering for he has been a volunteer with the Tarrant at Dallas. “Pro Bono work is important because TLTV after befriending an Army veteran County Chapter of Texas Lawyers for of the war in Afghanistan who was attend- Texas Veterans and serves on the TLTV it provides access to justice for low-income ing anger management classes. As an planning committee. He also has been individuals.” g attorney, he enjoys interviewing veterans a pro-bono attorney volunteer with the Tarrant Volunteer Attorney Services and at the monthly legal clinics.
J
Renewal of Attorney ID Badges The Sheriff’s Department has begun the processing 2024 Attorney ID badges. Completed applications can be dropped off or mailed to the Tarrant County Bar Association Office at 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Please note: Attorney ID badges are exclusively designated for use in criminal courts and juvenile court. Applicants will receive an email notification from TCBA once the Sheriff’s Department approves their badges. For any inquiries, please reach out to Gracie Gutierrez at graciela@tarrantbar.org. Download the 2024 Attorney ID Badge application at www.tarrantbar.org/Attorney-ID-24.
17th Annual
FREE EVENT
Presented by Tarrant County Bar Foundaaon in cooperaaon with Tarrant County Bar Associaaon and Texas A&M University School of Law
The People’s Law School is an opportunity to learn the basics about common legal issues. Topics will include Family Law, Buying/Selling a Home, Wills & Estates, Guardianship, and more.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Check-in begins at 12 p.m. | Session One begins at 1 p.m.
Texas A&M University School of Law 1515 Commerce Street Fort Worth, TX 76102
(located downtown across from the Fort Worth Water Gardens)
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25
2023 Pro Bono Award Spotlight
KARON ROWDEN
STEADFAST SERVICE AWARD her with an opportunity to help out the pro bono and teaches the students to approach client representation in a holcommunity. Karon received her Juris Doctor from istic manner. Karon is a zealous advocate Texas Wesleyan School of Law in 2001. for low income families, survivors of She is the Director of the Family & Vet- domestic violence, veterans, and immerans Advocacy Clinic. Karon has worked igrants. In her spare time, Karon enjoys as a Clinic Attorney with the Family & traveling, camping, motorcycling with Veterans Advocacy Clinic for over 15 her husband, ATV excursions, and spenyears. She is a frequent volunteer, volun- ding time with her family. aron Rowden has been volun- teering her time with TLTV, LegalLine, “Providing essential legal needs of inditeering with TLTV for more than and occasionally for TVAS, The Houston gent or low-income populations can a decade. Karon is deeply comm- Volunteer Attorney program, and the make a huge difference in a person’s life. itted to helping provide justice for all. American Bar Association’s free legal an- Knowing you can make that difference and acting upon that knowledge will She finds that volunteering is one way to swers. further this commitment because she can Additionally, Karon is a frequent benefit not only the client but can provide provide legal aid to people who would not committee volunteer with the TCBA’s you a profound sense of balance in your otherwise have access to legal services due various committees and Legal Aid serves life and provide you with even more to financial, language or cultural bar- committees. Karon is passionate about reason to appreciate the privileges and riers. Volunteering with TLTV provides teaching her students the importance of bounties that come to you.” g
K
Submit a
Substantive Law Article for
Bulletin
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
The Bar Bulletin is a bi-monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Please submit queries or articles to elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. Your work will be fully attributed to you, the author.
Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Tarrant County Bar Association, its officers or the Board of Directors. Advertisements and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event. 26 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Honoring our Pro Bono Award Recipients of LegalLine
& Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) & Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans – Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV) LegalLine Pro Bono Awards Attorney of the Year..........................................................................Ndidi Gbulie, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Rookie of the Year..................................................................Angelia Megahan, Law Office of Angelia Megahan
TVAS Pro Bono Awards Attorney Volunteer.....................................................................................Victoria Rhodes, Robbins Travis PLLC Attorney Mentor........................................................................Lori Spearman, Law Office of Lori A. Spearman Paralegal Volunteer..........................................................................................Summer Chappell, The Harris Firm Law Firm Partner........................................................................................................................Cantey Hanger LLP Community Partner.........................................................................................Jennifer Spencer, True Worth Place
TLTV Pro Bono Awards Eagle Service.............................................................Robert Blankenship, Texas A&M University School of Law Steadfast Service....................................................................................John Corbin, Law Office of John J. Corbin Attorney Volunteer...................................................................................Brittany Allen-Brantley, Leach Fox Law Law Student Volunteer.............................................................Haley Fair, Texas A&M University School of Law Community Partner................................................................................................American Legion China Post 1
Thursday, January 4, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $32 / Person City Club of Fort Worth, 301 Commerce St., Fort Worth 76102 Register at www.tarrantbar.org/Pro-Bono-Awards-2024 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 27
Requests for labels should be directed to Lauren St. Clair by e-mail at laurensc@tarrantbar.org, by fax at 817.335.9238, or by visiting the TCBA office. 28 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 29
Member Benefits Vendor List TCBA members may take advantage of discounts provided by the following vendors:
AMO Office Supply guarantees the lowest prices on office supplies for TCBA members, with next-day delivery and free shipping. Call 800.420.6421.
Bar Bulletin ▪ November/December 2023 PRESORTED STANDARD Tarrant County Bar Association U. S. POSTAGE PAID 1315 Calhoun Street FORT WORTH, TX Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 PERMIT 1807 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Falcon Document Solutions provides quick, efficient, and reliable process services, document scanning, printing, copying, electronic discovery, litigation displays, and trial boards. They are available 24/7 at 817.870.0330 or visit their website at www.falcondocs.com. TCBA members can enjoy discounts on their services. Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc. offers a 10% discount for TCBA members on printed materials — business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. To receive a quote, call 817.577.0572. The Fort Worth Zoo offers discounted tickets to TCBA members. $16.00 for adult tickets, $12 for child or senior tickets. For more information, contact Tracy Card at tracy@tarrantbar.org or call 817.338.4092. Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 15% off new Westlaw subscriptions or upgrades to current subscriptions*, including our latest AI enhanced platform, Westlaw Edge. Please contact your local Account Executive, Ben Galloway, for more information: Ben.Galloway@TR.com. *Restrictions apply, please contact your AE for details. For IT Help: Juris Fabrilis provides members with discounted rates on web-based tools to assist in managing their law practices. For more information, call 817.481.1573 ext. 101. For Shredding and Document Disposal: Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that offers TCBA members a 10% discount to TCBA members. They provide on-site document shredding services. TCBA also organizes 2 free shredding events per year exclusively for its members. Members can bring up to five boxes for shredding free of charge. Call 940.783.6580 for details. g
Advertisers' Index Law Offices of Laird and McCloskey...Inside Front Cover Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP................................11, 16 Parker Law Firm.............................Inside Back Cover Tarrant County Commercial Record........................15 Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange.........................9
If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit the corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, or email tcba@tarrantbar.org.
Looking for ways you can support TLTV but unable to volunteer? CONSIDER SPONSORING A REMOTE OR IN-PERSON CLINIC! Contact sarah@tarrantbar.org for more details.
Connect with us on
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