SUMMONS NEWSLETTER APRIL EDITION

ON THE COVER

In this month's cover, we proudly present a captivating snapshot of the distinguished honorees of our upcoming Law Day Gala. Each individual showcased has made indelible marks within the legal realm and our community. From Mike Mills, recipient of the Lifetime Award, to Deborah Cordova, honored with the Ethics Award, and HCBA John E. Cook Pro-bono recipient Cynthia Benavides, Outstanding Public Official recipient Judge Armando Marroquin, and Liberty Bell recipient Ana Verley — each epitomizes dedication and excellence in their respective fields. Join us in recognizing their outstanding contributions and commitment to advancing justice and serving our legal community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY2ND-DAVIDHOCKEMA

MAY9TH-HCBAELECTIONDAY

MAY24TH-LAWDAYGALA

MAY 28, 29 ,31 & 31ST - BILL OF RIGHTS

CONFERENCE

MAY28THZOOM-AITRAINING

MAY29THZOOM-EXPUNCTION

MAY30THZOOM-VIRTUALTRAINING

MAY31STINPERSON-BILLOFRIGHTS

President Salazar,KellyR LinebargerGogganBlair& Sampson.LLP

President-Elect

Richardson,Regina'Regi' LawOfficeofRegina"Regi" Richardson

Secretary Benavides,Alexandro"Alex" HidalgoCountyDistrictAttorney's Office

Past-President Espinosa,Pete EspinosaLawFirm

Treasurer Falcon,Sandra LewisPenaFalcon&Cook

Director Benavides,Clarissa ToyotaFinancialServices

Director Falcon,HenryIII LoncarLyonJenkins

Director Garcia,EloyJr LawOfficeofEloyR GarciaJr

Director

Tijerina,GuillermoJr Tijerina&Denzer

Director Elizondo,Lydia MountLaw,PLLC

Director Torres,Hector Colvin,Saenz,Rodriguez&Kennamer, LLP

Director Koeneke,Daniel Ellis,Koeneke&Ramirez,LLP

Director Sepulveda,Lauren CityofMcAllenMunicipalCourt

Director Ozuna,Jose HidalgoCountyPublicDefender's Office

Director Ramirez,JudgeMario HidalgoCounty332ndDistrictCourt

Director Zuniga,RickA. Atlas,Hall&Rodriguez,LLP

MEET THE STAFF

AbrahamJ. Garcia ExecutiveDirector

Abraham Garcia holds the esteemed position of Executive Director at the Hidalgo County Bar Association, a role he has dutifully fulfilled since 2020 Mr Garcia's tenure with the organization spans several years, and he has been a committed member since 2017 He has always been a staunch advocate of the HCBA's values and mission, and his work has always reflected his dedication to these ideals

Apart from his professional pursuits, Mr Garcia is an avid lover of the outdoors. He finds solace in hiking and traveling and cherishes spending quality time with his dogs and fiancé. Although he has a natural inclination towards altruism, Mr. Garcia admits that his work at the HCBA is also selfserving to an extent. He finds immense fulfillment in his role and takes pride in his contributions to the organization. Mr. Garcia has played a pivotal role in the HCBA's youth-focused initiatives. The Heart Gallery is one such program that he has been instrumental in, which aims to provide assistance to foster care children. Additionally, he has been an active participant in the toy drive that benefits underprivileged children living in Arise Muñiz's colonias Through these efforts, Mr Garcia has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to social responsibility and community service

ShalomM.Almeida

Marketing&CLE Coordinator

Allow me to introduce you to Shalom Almeida the Marketing and CLE Coordinator who recently joined our association in August. Since her college days, Shalom has had a strong desire to work in the nonprofit sector, and she is thrilled to be part of an organization that aligns with her personal values and mission.

Beyond her passion for her work, Shalom also enjoys traveling, and with her fiancé, she has set a goal to visit every baseball stadium in the country. She finds the beach soothing and likes to swim to unwind. Shalom is committed to being an active member of the community and is eager to contribute to making it a better place for everyone. We look forward to seeing her grow!

A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST MONTH

We're excited to share the success of this month’s CLE event! It was filled with invaluable insights, enriching experiences, and laughter that made it truly unforgettable. Our sincere thanks to all attendees for their contributions to the vibrant atmosphere. Special thanks to our esteemed speakers – Marion Lawler, Mike Guerra, Joe Escobedo, and Jaime Saenz – whose expertise enriched discussions and left a lasting impact. Geoff Gannaway's exceptional moderation ensured smooth conversations.

We're grateful to our sponsors, the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas and the South Texas Chapter of ABOTA, for their unwavering support. Their commitment to the legal community is commendable.

We are thrilled to share with you the highlights from this month's Child Welfare CLE session featuring the dynamic duo of Ana Hansen and Catherine Garcia. Once again, they delivered a wealth of invaluable information about the establishment of Paternity.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Espinosa Law Firm for their generous sponsorship, ensuring that our attendees were well-fed and energized throughout the session.

A special thank you goes out to Judge Villalon for graciously opening his courtroom to host our event.

Last but certainly not least, we want to express our sincere appreciation to every one of you who took the time to attend the CLE.

This past half-day Technology Summit left everyone feeling inspired, informed, and ready to conquer the technology world. First off, let's give a round of applause to our incredible speakers: Diana Fuentes Aguilar, Pablo Almaguer, Edna Cedillo, Cynthia L. Benavides, and Juan Ramos. But of course, none of this would have been possible without YOU, our amazing attendees! Your engagement, curiosity, and commitment to learning made the event truly special.

A special shoutout goes to the Law Office of Diana Fuentes Aguilar for their generous sponsorship.

We are thrilled to share highlights from yesterday's Immigration CLE, where our esteemed speakers JoAnna Serrato, Miriam Ayala, Jaqueline Obregon, and Ricardo Gonzalez Jr. came together to shed light on the vital intersection of family law and immigration. Their insightful presentations deepened our understanding and ignited meaningful discussions, bridging gaps and fostering collaboration within our legal community.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to our incredible attendees whose participation and engagement contributed to the success of this event. Your presence and enthusiasm truly made a difference.

UPCOMING CLE’S AND EVENTS

EVENTS AND CLE’S

MAY 2ND - DAVID HOCKEMA CONFERENCE

MAY 9TH - HCBA ELECTION DAY

MAY 24TH - LAW DAY GALA

MAY 28, 29 ,31 & 31ST - BILL OF RIGHTS CONFERENCE

MAY 28TH ZOOM - AI TRAINING

MAY 29TH ZOOM - EXPUNCTION

MAY 30TH ZOOM - VIRTUAL

TRAINING

MAY 31ST IN PERSON - BILL OF RIGHTS

SECURE YOUR SPOT FOR OUR CLE'S AT WWW.HIDALGOBAR.ORG BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR FASTER THAN A WINNING VERDICT.

SPACE IS AS LIMITED AS A COURTHOUSE PARKING SPOT, SO GRAB YOURS NOW!

SUMMONS ADVERTISING

FULL PAGE - 9 MONTH 1/2 PAGE - 9 MONTH

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$30 a month for a 9 month contract with the ability to change the information at any time.

FULL PAGE - 1 MONTH 1/2 PAGE - 1 MONTH

$70 for a 1 month contract.

$45 for a 1 month contract.

SECTIONS OFFERED

Appellate Law

Section

Criminal Law

Section

Estate Planning and Probate Law

Section

Family Law

Section

Civil Trial Law

Section

Immigration

Law Section

Real State Law

Section

Business Law & Commercial Litigation

Section

Women’s Bar

Section

BENEFITS

1.

Networking Opportunities: Sections offer a platform to connect with fellow professionals who share your legal interests. This can lead to valuable connections, referrals, and collaborations within your field.

2.

Access to Experts: You gain direct access to leading experts and thought leaders in your practice area, allowing you to seek advice, guidance, and mentorship from those with extensive experience.

3.

Publications and Journals: Some sections publish newsletters, journals.

4.

CLE Opportunities: All sections offer Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, which help you fulfill your mandatory CLE requirements while staying informed about the latest legal developments.

5.

Career Advancement: Being an active member of a law section can enhance your credibility and visibility within your practice area, potentially leading to increased career opportunities and recognition.

6.

Leadership Opportunities: Joining a law section may provide opportunities for leadership roles, such as serving on committees, participating in panel discussions, or even holding elected positions within the section.

SUMMONS ADVERTISING BENEFITS

Increased Exposure: Your logo and brand message will be prominently featured in our newsletter, reaching hundreds of potential customers. This exposure can lead to increased brand recognition and recall, as your business will be associated with valuable content and information.

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In a fast-paced business landscape, it's crucial to seize opportunities that can set you apart from the competition. By becoming a sponsor of our newsletter, you'll position your business for success and growth in the market.

JOB POSTINGS

City of McAllen

Job Description Report

Job Title:

Basic Information

Effective Date:

Department:

Classification:

Reports To:

Approved By:

6/26/2018

Legal

Exempt/Salary

Legal-City Attorney

Job Grade: 0

Job Description

Job Responsibilities Assistant City Attorney II

Revised Date:

Supervises:

12/14/2023

Under supervision of the City Attorney, an Assistant City Attorney II assists in performing the duties of the City Attorney’s Office with an emphasis on providing technical and professional support as legal advisor to the City Commission, City Manager, and department directors on assigned issues of applicable local, state, federal laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances affecting the City.

0.00

1. Assist in performing the duties of the City Attorney’s Office.

2. Maintain knowledge of and provide legal guidance and counsel regarding application of federal and state laws, rules, policies, and court decisions affecting municipalities as well as the City Charter and City Code provisions.

3. Prepare and issue oral and written legal opinions or legal memoranda upon request.

4. Assist with litigation matters, including but not limited to drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, and performing pre-trial and trial tasks

5. Analyze, review, and draft a broad range of transactional instruments, including interlocal agreements, memoranda of understanding, budget amendments, agreements to promote economic development, thirdparty contracts, ordinances, and resolutions

6. Have knowledge of and assist with real estate matters.

7. Represent the State as Prosecuting attorney in Municipal Court as the need arises.

8. Provide legal advice and make presentations to councils, boards, commissions, civic groups, and the public and attend meetings such as City Commission meetings and City Advisory Board meetings 9 Perform other related duties as assigned which are reasonably within the scope of job duties of the position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Minimum Requirements

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands

1. Job requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an accredited law school with a valid license to practice in the State of Texas.

2 Position requires a minimum of five (5) years of related work experience.

3. Must possess a valid Texas Class C driver's license.

4. Must have general knowledge of rules, regulations, and procedures applicable to municipalities

5 Position requires superb organizational, time management and multitasking skills.

6. Position requires outstanding ability to conduct research, collaborate, and excellent communication skills.

7 Employee must be proficient in using Microsoft suite applications

Job involves sitting, standing and walking from place to place in an office setting

Additional Information

1 This is a safety sensitive position subject to random drug and alcohol testing

2. Position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

3. Attendance at work is required.

Disclaimer

HR Signature / Date

Hiring Manager Signature / Date

Municipal Court-Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge

Job Description

Under general supervision and in the absence or unavailability of the Presiding Municipal Court Judge, the Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge presides over the City of McAllen Municipal Court sessions and serves as a magistrate to administer justice in the disposition of the cases involving ordinances or statutory misdemeanor violations within the jurisdiction of the court. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge serves as the deputy judge and back-up administrator to the Presiding Municipal Court Judge. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge reports to the Presiding Municipal Court Judge. This is a full-time position.

Job Responsibilities

1. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge is on duty 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, and acts as a magistrate to conduct arraignments on Class A, B, and C misdemeanors and all felonies when needed. As a magistrate, the Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will review and execute warrants and conduct juvenile magistrations when needed (including but not limited to arrest warrants, search warrants, administrative search warrants, phone search warrants and blood search warrants). This position will require the Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge to be oncall on nights and weekends scheduled by the Presiding Judge. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will occasionally work nights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled by the Presiding Judge.

2. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will serve as the deputy associate judge to the Presiding Municipal Court Judge and will serve as the administrator in charge when the Presiding Municipal Court Judge is unavailable.

3. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will consider and rule on motion to reduce bond and motions to dismiss charges from the Criminal District Attorney’s Office and private and public attorneys. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge also has the authority to monitor compliance with bond conditions until cases are filed or dismissed and the authority to modify, raise, or revoke those bonds for non-compliance. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge may also be required to conduct examining trials, no bond hearings, and 18.16 right to possession hearings.

4. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge conducts jail hearings as needed. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will also conduct hearings, bench trials, and jury trials on a variety of Class C misdemeanors and quasi-civil hearings throughout the day on dockets that may reach 100+ cases in total.

5. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will be the custodian of record for any electronic recordings created while they are presiding.

6. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge will issue written orders and execute judgments as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Minimum Requirements: - 1. Job requires graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree.

2. Job requires that the applicant have been licensed in good standing to practice law from the State Bar of Texas for a minimum of (5) five years and a minimum of (5) five years of experience as a municipal court judge, prosecutor, or related experience in the State of Texas.

3. Job requires a valid Texas Class C Driver’s License.

4. Must be able to communicate with tact and diplomacy.

5. Must be ever mindful of the limits of his/her jurisdiction, the law, and exercise sound judgment. 6. Must be able to meet deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines could affect external operations.

7. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge must be able to constructively handle frequent and irregular interruptions of activity. The position requires quick, independent judgment to meet unexpected and serious developments. These decisions may affect more than one city department. 8. The Chief Associate Municipal Court Judge must be able to maintain confidentiality. Inappropriate disclosure of information could have serious effect upon the internal or external relationships of the organization in relation to agencies, the community, or the State into the future.

Physical Requirements

Employee generally works in an office environment. Work requires exerting up to 10 pounds on occasion when working with file boxes and records.

Additional Information

1. This position is safety sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. 2. This position has supervisory responsibilities and driving responsibilities.

3. This position constantly works with employees of the court, employees of other city departments— especially legal, police, and code enforcement departments as well as the public and employees of other governmental entities.

4. This employee is responsible for working with a high degree of accuracy and control of detail. A high degree of skill and knowledge is required to resolve issues and respond to those issues.

Location:

Public Safety Building, McAllen, TX 78501

Department:

Municipal Court

Job Status:

Full-Time

Shift: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Days: Sun., Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat. Hours Per Week: 40

Rate of Pay:

$95,000.00 -

Position Type: Full-Time

Status:

Open Until Filled

JOB POSTING

Job Details:

Villeda Law Group need an attorney with at least 2 years experience in transaction including probate/estate planning and/or litigation. Willing to work, solid legal education and very ethical. Bilingual in Spanish ideal. Benefits provided. Send resume to avilleda@mybusinesslawyer.com. No calls please. Resume submission will be kept confidential.

Royston, Rayzor, & Williams’ Brownsville office is seeking an experienced legal secretary with litigation experience preferred, but all applicants will be considered. The ideal applicant should have:

Superior organizational skills with attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Work under the supervision of one or more attorneys and provide administrative support.

Type and send various documents such as correspondence, pleadings, motions, and discovery to parties involved.

Assist with the service and filing of legal documents.

Maintain and update case information and contact lists.

Communicate with attorney offices, courts, and clients regarding scheduling and miscellaneous matters.

Facilitate the meeting of deadlines by keeping multiple calendars and providing timely reminders.

Ability to multitask and prioritize matters.

Ability to work with legal technology such as court-filing systems, transcription software, etc.

The right candidate should be friendly, dedicated and above all, a team player. Salary will be commensurate with experience and skill level. Benefits include health insurance, disability, paid life insurance and a 401k plan.

Qualified applicants should send resumes to: rebecca.dale@roystonlaw.com

Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams’ Brownsville office is seeking an Associate Attorney with litigation experience preferred, but all applicants will be reviewed.

The applicant should possess strong academic credentials, proficient writing, and oral advocacy skills.

Excellent benefits include health insurance, disability, life insurance and a 401k plan. Salary commensurate with experience. Resumes and a writing sample should be sent to rebecca.dale@roystonlaw.com

Qualified applicants should send resumes to: rebecca.dale@roystonlaw.com