2022 Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans Program

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T H E T E X A S A C C E S S TO J U S T I C E C O M M I S S I O N For more than two decades, the Texas Access to Justice Commission has worked to ensure that as many low-income Texans as possible are able to effectively access the justice system. Working with the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Legislature, the State Bar of Texas, legal aid organizations, and volunteer attorneys, the Commission has reduced barriers to the justice system for low-income Texans and helped fund legal aid organizations across the state, expanding the ability of low-income people to secure adequate legal representation. Since 2010, the Commission, with the generous support of the State Bar of Texas, has hosted the annual Champions of Justice Gala to fund legal aid efforts to a very special population of Texans—our veterans.

Supporting our veterans is more important than ever—the problems these brave men and women are facing have not disappeared because they are not actively engaged overseas. Texas will soon be home to the largest population of veterans in the nation. Those veterans need help fighting battles on the home front, from accessing medical benefits to addressing family issues to fighting wrongful foreclosures. When our veterans are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from PTSD and have a suicide rate 1.5 times higher than the civilian population, looming legal issues can be the breaking point for even the strongest of them.

Texas is becoming the front line of veteran access to justice for the nation, and the implications are clear. Without proper funding for legal aid, some of our heroes will not survive the peace. Your generous support of tonight’s Champions of Justice Gala through sponsorships, donations, and contributions of time and talent means supporting Texas veterans at the exact moment they need it most – when they need hope to overcome their personal obstacles and legal aid to overcome their civil legal ones. We are grateful for your steadfast support. You make it possible to honor and serve the brave people who have sacrificed so much for our country.

CHAMPIONS of JUSTICE GAL A 2022

CO-CHAIRS Jerry K. Clements, Locke Lord LLP Monica Karuturi, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. David R. McAtee II, AT&T Ross R. Moody, The Moody Foundation & National Western Life Insurance Company Stephen C. Mount, H-E-B Sandra Phillips Rogers, Toyota Wayne Watts Marie R. Yeates, Vinson & Elkins LLP Carlos M. Zaffirini, Jr., Audrey & Carlos Zaffirini, Jr. Family Foundation Harry M. Reasoner Vinson & Elkins LLP Gala Committee Chair, Texas Access to Justice Commission

Sylvia Borunda Firth Sylvia Borunda Firth, PLLC President, State Bar of Texas

HOST COMMITTEE Michael R. Absmeier Kurt Arnold Chad Baruch Bev Baughman Hon. Jane & Doug Bland Elizabeth "Heidi" G. Bloch Bruce P. Bower Debbie & Frank Branson Ricardo G. Cedillo Kelly Chen Nina Cortell Todd Croftchik Alistair B. Dawson Stephen C. Dillard Randall M. Ebner Ellen Farrell Lori Fink Hilda C. Galvan John Gersch Michael Gibbs Robin C. Gibbs Elizabeth Gibson Don M. Glendenning Andrew Gould Darrell Guy Kendyl T. Hanks David H. Harper Michael Hartman Dean W. Harvey G. Troy Hatch Irwin “Buddy” Herz

Jason Itkin Benedict V. James Ellyn Haikin Josef Ronald Krist David Lawson Timothy Leahy Thomas S. Leatherbury Lynne Liberato Mark Little Jill Louis Elizabeth E. Mack Michael Marin Stacey Maris Stephen E. McConnico John P. McDonald James Meza III Harriet E. Miers Gina Byrne Miller Richard Warren Mithoff Robert T. Mowrey Brian C. Nash Ed Nelson Hon. Harriet O'Neill Laura O'Rourke Rey Perez Dawn Pittman Chris Price Barrett H. Reasoner Tracie J. Renfroe Sandra Rodriguez Regina Rogers

William Ryan James B. Sales Esteban Sandoval Adam T. Schramek Allison Shue Humma Siddiqi Christopher D. Sileo Julia A. Simon Jason Smith Craig Stanfield Macey Reasoner Stokes Neal Sutton Oliver Peter Thoma Brad Toben Robert Tobey Joseph Tocco Luke Torres Terry O. Tottenham Eric Vickers Patricia J. Villareal Marc Vockell Hon. Dale Wainwright Robert C. Walters Charles Skip Watson Lysha Weston Thomas J. Williams Diane Williamson Patti & Paul Yetter Thomas Yoxall

THE EVENING Welcome Remarks Justice Brett Busby, Supreme Court of Texas Color Guard Presentation – National Anthem – Pledge of Allegiance Presentation of Colors by the Marines of Inspector Instructor Staff, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment, Austin Jake Skipworth, Doctorate of Musical Arts student, University of Texas Recognition of Special Guests Harry M. Reasoner, Gala Chair Introduction of Keynote Speaker Justice Brett Busby, Supreme Court of Texas The Macey and Harry Reasoner Access to Justice Lecture Lieutenant General Nadja West, United States Army (Retired) Award Presentations Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, Supreme Court of Texas James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award Veronica F. Jacobs Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All Award Priya Aiyar Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award Bruce P. Bower Closing Remarks Justice Brett Busby, Supreme Court of Texas

LIEUTENANT GENERA KEYNOTE

A trailblazer in leadership, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Nadja West, 44th Army Surgeon General and former Commanding General of US Army Medical Command, oversaw the most comprehensive transformation in military medicine in more than three decades while ensuring medical force readiness remained high, medical support was timely, and quality of care to more than 4 million humans remained outstanding. Her 20 years of experience in executive leadership, crisis management, and disaster response — including her instrumental role in crafting the Department of Defense medical response to the Ebola crisis — allow West to speak expertly on leadership tactics to effectively propel teams through times of uncertainty and crisis.

Since leaving the military, West continues to lead in both the public and private sectors by serving on the boards of directors for Johnson & Johnson, Nucor, Tempus Labs, Tenet Healthcare, Americares, the Olmsted Foundation, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, dedicated to supporting our veterans, service members, and their families. She is also a trustee of the National Recreation Foundation and Mount St. Mary’s University, and an independent director on the NCAA’s Board of Governors.

L ( R E T. ) N A D J A W E S T SPEAKER

The list of General West’s accomplishments includes: • First female African American 3-star General in the Army’s history • Currently the highest-ranking woman to ever graduate from West Point • Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, 2019-2021 • Distinguished Fellow of the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics • First African American confirmed by the Senate to be the Army’s Surgeon General • First female selected as the Joint Staff Surgeon • First female selected to be the Division Surgeon for 1st Armored Division

J A M E S B. S A L E S B O O T S The James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award recognizes a legal services program attorney or a pro bono attorney who is an exemplary advocate and who gives selflessly of their time and talent to provide legal help to those who have no voice.

Past Award Recipients

2021 Beth Mitchell & Allison Eichenfeld Neal

2015 Peter Hofer 2014 Christine Larson

2020 Brandon Crisp & Keri Ward 2019 Garth Corbett & William Eugene Rollins

2013 Jim Harrington 2012 Terry O. Tottenham, Charles Kimbrough, & Bruce P. Bower

2018 Israel M. Reyna 2017 Efrén C. Olivares 2016 Bronwyn Blake

2011 Col. Bryan Spencer & Sharon Reynerson

ON THE GROUND AWARD Veronica F. Jacobs When she was first hired to work at Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Veronica Jacobs started as a staff attorney in the Disability Unit, formerly known as the AIDS Project, helping clients navigate healthcare-related legal issues or working with them in hospice or in their homes to address end-of-life legal issues. Her commitment extended beyond the office, spending her free time collecting everyday goods the HIV+ community lacked and participating in various fundraising efforts to benefit that community.

As she advanced within HVL to Supervising Attorney and later Legal Services Director, her willingness to go the extra step continued. When George Floyd was murdered in 2020 and dialogue about race and inequality dominated, Ms. Jacobs guided numerous conversations to address racially motivated barriers to justice and prejudice inherent in the justice system. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the justice system to adopt new, remote methods, Ms. Jacobs quickly identified the technological barriers to justice that would disproportionately impact lowincome Texas. She immediately organized drive-thru legal clinics combining volunteer attorneys, law students, and community members to help people navigate the changed legal landscape.

For nearly 30 years, Ms. Jacobs understood her clients’ needs, anticipated problems they would face in the legal system, and advocated for changes to address their needs. Moreover, she served as an exemplar to her colleagues of what it means to advocate for a client—effective advocacy and representation requires empathy, understanding, and frequently, work that lies outside what is expected of a lawyer.

H A R R Y M. R E A S O N E R J U The Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All award is named after Texas legal icon and Texas Access to Justice Commission Chair Emeritus, Harry M. Reasoner.

This award recognizes an outstanding attorney who demonstrates dedication and commitment to providing pro bono legal services and promoting a culture of pro bono within the Bar. Past Award Recipient

2021

Paul Yetter

USTICE FOR ALL AWARD Priya Aiyar Human trafficking survivors in Dallas have a dynamic ally in American Airlines’ Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Priya Aiyar, through her work to empower survivors to shake off the lingering legal shackles of a past life. While pro bono work has played an important role throughout Ms. Aiyar’s career, it’s the innovative ways in which she has addressed those problems in Texas we applaud.

One of the first things Ms. Aiyar did at American Airlines was establish a culture fostering volunteer work in her department. She appointed a senior attorney as Pro Bono Director and encouraged staff to dedicate their time to help those in need. Ms. Aiyar went even further in her efforts to combat human trafficking, joining with a non-profit, New Friends New Life, focused on helping survivors. In essence, she began expanding that pro bono culture at AA into the larger DFW community. Ms. Aiyar then enlisted the help of international law firm Jones Day to join AA attorneys in helping NFNL clients obtain expungements and seal their records, opening the door to new housing, employment, and education opportunities for those survivors.

Ms. Aiyar then joined the efforts of AA and Jones Day attorneys with the efforts of two local legal aid organizations, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, expanding their pro bono work beyond expunctions to help even more people in the DFW area resolve their civil legal issues. Ms. Aiyar’s search for innovative ways to remove barriers to the justice system is unswerving. AA recently made in-kind donations to bridge the distance legal aid attorneys needed to travel to meet with clients needing representation outside of the DFW area. Not only has Ms. Aiyar fostered a pro bono culture, she has constructed a pro bono community. And we are excited to see how that community evolves.

E M I LY C. J O N E S L I F E T I M The Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award reflects the highest honor given for a career dedicated to supporting legal aid for low-income Texans.

This award, named for the first Executive Director of the Commission, recognizes an outstanding individual whose extraordinary spirit and demonstrated commitment to legal aid has improved our society and inspired others.

Past Award Recipients

2021 Fred Fuchs

2011 Randall Chapman

2018 David Hall

2010 Charles W. Matthews

2015 James B. Sales

2010 Hon. Harriet O'Neill

2015 Hon. Wallace B. Jefferson

2009 Emily C. Jones

2013 Stewart Gagnon

ME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Bruce P. Bower Known among his colleagues as an unassuming juggernaut of Texas legal aid, Bruce Bower is humble, hard-working, empathetic, wise, and possesses encyclopedic legal knowledge. His career and accomplishments attest to these qualities, as does his work to directly benefit low-income clients and to change, defeat, or simply bypass inequities in our justice system that negatively impact some of the most vulnerable populations of Texans—seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Mr. Bower has spent his entire career working to help the less fortunate. In 1989, he started the Legal Hotline for Texans, a hotline dedicated to elderly Texans and their legal problems. The hotline revealed a nexus between elder law, public benefits, and victim’s civil legal services, causing Mr. Bower to create the Facilities Victims Project. His work with grandparents and caregivers raising children not born to them resulted in an entirely new chapter of the Texas Family Code. With Mr. Bower’s creation of the Master Pooled Trust, Medicaid recipients no longer risk losing their benefits when they get an inheritance, a personal injury settlement, or even SSI back payments. He also helped secure passage of Chapter 114 of the Texas Estate Code, which allows people to transfer real property to a named beneficiary upon their death outside the probate system, similar to life insurance benefits.

His work with legal aid attorneys has been just as important as his work for vulnerable Texans. One attorney remarked that asking, “What would Bruce do?” is an integral part of their decision-making process. Throughout his career, Mr. Bower has served as a font of knowledge, a pillar of dedication, and a beacon of empathy and understanding to generations of lawyers. His influence on everyone he has worked with and trained will benefit Texas residents for decades to come, and his advocacy on behalf of thousands of lowincome Texans leaves a legacy never to be forgotten.

CHAMPIONS OF J G U A R D I A N S , 2021 - 202 2 David J. Bertoch David Anthony Bloomer Sara E. Dysart John Fleming Michael W. Hilliard Christopher Hollins Roland Johnson Alexander Knapp

Dwaine Morris Massey Peggy Montgomery Harry M. Reasoner Corrie Thomas Reese J. Michael Solar Leah Linda Stolar Terry O. Tottenham Carlos M. Zaffirini, Jr.

JUSTICE SOCIETY H E R O E S , 2021 - 2022 John Abramowitz Barry Abrams Paul E. Anderson Carol M. Barger Sharon Beausoleil David Beck Rebecca Bishop Hugh T. Blevins Eric Boettcher T. David Bond Paul Talmage Boston Marian Lyia Brancaccio Wendy Castellana Michael Caywood Clinton F. Cross Mario Davila Sabrina Dimichele DLA Piper Pablo Franco Hon. Thomas C. Fuller Robert Gage Kevin Bernard Gerrity

Claire Grace Nancy Hesse Hamren Peter Hansen Lynda Harbove Renee Hemmasi George B. Hernandez Daniel Hopper Benedict James Eileen Keiffer Lawrence Kelly Thomas Craig Kildebeck Ronald Kirk Wail Klio Michael Lam Nathaniel Lounsbury Hon. Michael C. Massengale David R. McAtee II Harriet E. Miers Robert T. Mowrey Charles W. Nichols Tammi Niven

Alexander Piala Ann Kaylene Ray Scott E. Rozzell Philip Sellers Diane Marie St. Yves Matthew R. Stammel Joel Jay Steed Bill Stutts Will Sutton Robert L. Tobey Travis County Women Lawyers Association Cynthia Hoff Trochu Ben Vaughan Bill Wallander Jonathan Werlang Allen Eugene White Thomas Clark Wright Paul Yetter Zelle, LLP

CHAMPIONS OF J DEFENDE Joseph Abraham William Vance Aleshire Maria Nan Alessandra James M. Alsup Theodora McShan Anastaplo Elizabeth Anne Apperley Kurt Brynilde Arnold Leo L. Barnes Chad Baruch Kathryn Betts Ron Dale Betz Ronnie Earl Bounds Ronnie Bounds Hon. Brett Busby Christopher Cauble Chase Cobb Dan Lamar Cogdell Richard Alfred Cort Scott Wagner Cowan Parker Cragg

Quinton Alan Farley Hon. Roy B. Ferguson Matthew Florez Neill Fuquay Robert T. Givens Andrew Gould P. Rowland Greenwade Meghan Elaine Griffiths Patricia M. Hanson Simon Harrall Mark Edward Heidenheimer John Loring Howard Ann Howard Dee Dee D. Hoxie Carmen Irene Huerta-Perez Jason Aron Itkin Jason Joy Caroline Rene Kirksey Kathleen A. Knight Robert Bruce Laboon

The Commission established the Champion of Justice Society in 2012 for individuals who wanted to show their strong support of access to justice in Texas.

The Society has four giving levels, and membership is on a calendar-year basis.

JUSTICE SOCIETY R S , 20 21 - 2 0 2 2 Larry De-Wayne Layfield Joseph Everett Leblanc Katherine Lynn Levy Keith Lutsch Carla Machnik Elizabeth E. Mack E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. Lori Mason David George Matthews Sheila R. McIlnay Richard Melamed Meredith Morrill Stephen S. Mosher Karen Sue Neeley Kurt Nondorf Robert W. Pearson Michael V. Powell Maureen Powers Howard K. Prol Paul E. Pryzant

Al Richter, Jr. Michael Lee Riggs Penny Robe Stacey Beth Saunders Allyson Seger Alfredo Silva Kevin Simmons Linda Thill Michael Thomas Sunny Thompson Fangzhong Tian Lora Warren Mary Riley Wechtenhiser Luke Abraham Weedon Barbara C. Wingo John Douglas Wittenberg Lori Wrotenbery Richard Zansitis

Contributions received from Society members are part of the annual Justice for All Campaign which raised over $1.5 million last year to support civil legal aid for low-income Texans.

We are pleased to have the very g CO -SP ONSOR

CHAMP IONS OF JUST IC E

ADVOC AT E S OF JUST IC E

generous support of our sponsors.

BENE FAC TORS OF JUST ICE Arnold & Itkin LLP Baker Botts L.L.P. The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson Jones Day National Western Life Insurance Company Perkins Coie LLP Patricia J. Villareal & Thomas S. Leatherbury

PAT RONS OF JUST IC E

Baylor Law School Beck Redden LLP Hon. Jane & Doug Bland SBOT Corporate Counsel Section Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. Dorothea L. Leonhardt Foundation Friends of Texas Legal Services Center Gibbs & Bruns LLP Gibson Dunn Haynes Boone Johnston Tobey Baruch PC King & Spalding LLP

The Krist Foundation The Hon. Lee Yeakel Intellectual Property Inn of Court The McAtee Family Fund Harriet E. Miers Richard Warren Mithoff Norton Rose Fulbright Sandoval & James, PLLC Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP Texas Legal Services Center Whataburger Yetter Coleman LLP

OT H E R C O N T R I B U TO R S ( $ 1,000 O R M O R E ) Jerry & Mark Clements Randall M. Ebner Greer, Herz & Adams, L.L.P. The Law Office of Harriet O'Neill, PC

Porter Hedges LLP Regina Rogers Julia A. Simon Neal & Beth Sutton

We also extend our appreciation to the Marines of Inspector Instructor Staff, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment for the presentation of the Colors, and Jake Skipworth, Doctorate of Musical Arts student, University of Texas at Austin.

C H AI R

Harriet E. Miers Dallas

CO M M I SSI O N E R S Chad Baruch Dallas Hon. Nicholas Chu Austin Alistair B. Dawson Houston Joe Escobedo, Jr. Edinburg Gabby Garcia Austin Luz E. Herrera Fort Worth Lisa Hobbs Austin Roland K. Johnson Fort Worth Richard LaVallo Austin Thomas S. Leatherbury Dallas Hon. Joe Lopez Laredo William Marple Dallas

Hon. Michael C. Massengale Houston David R. McAtee II Dallas Hon. Latosha Lewis Payne Houston Kennon L. Wooten Austin

SUPREME COURT LIAISON Hon. Brett Busby Austin

E X- O FFI C I O MEMBERS For the Governor James P. Sullivan Austin For the Lieutenant Governor Hon. Judith Zaffirini Laredo For the Speaker of the House Hon. Gene Wu Houston

CH A I R S E MERITUS Harry M. Reasoner Houston James B. Sales Houston

E X E C U T I V E DIREC TO R Patricia E. McAllister

The State Bar of Texas, our co-sponsor, generously helps underwrite the 2022 Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans so that the proceeds directly support civil legal aid to low-income Texas Veterans.