austinbar.org JUNE 2017 | VOLUME 26, NUMBER 5
Award Winners Honored at Bench Bar Conference Luncheon Austin Bar and AYLA Present Annual Awards
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n May 12, 2017, more than 240 attorneys and 30 judges attended the annual Bench Bar Conference held at the Austin Country Club. The day-long conference, titled “Bench Bar Beyond,” explored topics and David M. González Jeannie Rollo current trends in the legal profession that will impact the fuService, serves on the executive ture of lawyers. During the event’s committee of the Lloyd Lochridge luncheon, the Professionalism Inn of Court, and is legislative and Regina Rogoff awards were counsel to the Texas Criminal presented by Austin Bar President Defense Lawyers Association. He Leslie Dippel. has served as a special prosecutor PROFESSIONALISM AWARD for Travis County, Kendall CounThe Austin Bar Association, in ty, Panola County, and the City partnership with the Texas Center of Cibolo. González is a member for Legal Ethics, annually presof the Disciplinary Committee ents this award to honor an Austin of the U.S. District Court for the attorney who best exemplifies, Western District of Texas, and he by conduct and character, truly served on the District 9 grievance professional traits; who others in committee of the State Bar of the bar seek to emulate; and who Texas from 2012–2015. He was all in the bar admire. appointed to the Board of DisThis year, the award was ciplinary Appeals by the Texas presented to David M. González, Supreme Court in 2015. a partner at Sumpter & González. REGINA ROGOFF AWARD He is board certified in criminal This annual award from the law and serves as an adjunct Austin Bar Association recognizes professor in the Trial Advocacy outstanding public sector service Program at the University of and serves as a lasting tribute to Texas School of Law. González the career achievements of Regina sits on the board of directors of Rogoff, former executive director the Capital Area Private Defender
Laura de la Garza
Gregorio Casar
of Legal Aid of Central Texas. The 2017 recipient of the award is Jeannie Rollo. Rollo is retiring this year after serving for 19 years as executive director of the Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas. She was on the board of American Gateways for six years, serving as president for four of those years. In 2010, American Gateways awarded her the Leading Voice Award for providing outstanding leadership to the immigration and legal communities in Austin. Rollo worked with the Texas Access to Justice Commission (TAJC) on the Self-Represented Litigant Subcommittee, and the Limited Scope Representation Subcommittee, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas Legal Access Division Pro Bono Workgroup. She served on the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service Standing Committee from 1998 to 2006. Last year, the Supreme Court of Texas appointed Rollo to the TAJC. She currently volunteers with the American Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service Program of Assistance and Review, providing best practices consulting to referral services across the country. She is a frequent presenter at
Judge Eric Shepperd
the ABA Lawyer Referral and Information Service National Workshop. Also presenting awards at the Bench Bar luncheon was AYLA President Katie Fillmore who honored the recipients of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, the Liberty Bell Award, and the Mentor Award. OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER AWARD The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes one young lawyer who has demonstrated professional excellence, service to the profession, and service to the community. Laura de la Garza, Texas Legislative Council, is the 2017 recipient of this award. De la Garza drafts legislation and advises members of the Texas Legislature, and she specializes in the areas of health and human services, insurance, and civil litigation. She is involved in the Austin legal community as a member of the Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court, an active member of AYLA, and a graduate of the 2016 AYLA/Austin Bar Leadership Academy. She serves the Austin community as a leader of the St. Austin’s young continued on page 5