The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) recently released a report, “Solitary Confinement in Texas: A Crisis with No End,”1 in which the nonprofit calls for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to open an investigation into solitary confinement practices in Texas. An investigation is called for, the report reads, due to alleged violations of the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized …
Austin Bar member Hon. Rudy Metayer received Leadership Austin’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award at the organization’s Community Engagement Awards event on Feb. 23, 2024. Every year, Leadership Austin, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides leadership training, recognizes exceptional individuals who lead with a commitment to improving the community. The Outstanding Alumni Award is given in honor of Polly Scallorn, who was …
You may know Pete Reid as chair of the Austin Bar’s Business, Corporate and Tax Law Section. You may also know him from his award-winning commercials. But you may not know his alter ego: Allaster McKallaster, angry Scottish soccer commentator, who has racked up more than 60 million views on Instagram and TikTok. McKallaster has several famous followers, including Ryan …
During the 88th Texas Legislature, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice received $85 million to install air conditioning in its units. Currently, 31 of TDCJ’s units are fully air-conditioned and 55 are partially air-conditioned for a total of 43,572 ‘cool beds,’ according to TDCJ statistics. Since 2018, 6,948 cool beds have been built, while another 3,437 are currently under construction. …
At the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP) Awards luncheon on Feb. 2, 2024, former Austin Bar and State Bar of Texas president Richard Pena was presented with the prestigious 2024 NCBP Fellows Award. Pena is the first Austin Bar president and only the second bar president from Texas to receive this prestigious award. After receiving the award, Pena addressed …
Are you a little “lavender hazed” on the ethical rules around discovery, attorney-client privilege, or handling high-profile cases? “Shake it off” and join us on April 19 at 9 a.m. for a free half-day virtual CLE, including three hours of ethics, hosted by the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court and the Austin Bar. Register here. The Preamble to …
The following candidates are running for officer and director positions on the 2024-25 AYLA board. The new board will take office on July 1, 2024, along with Emily Morris, who will serve as AYLA’s 2024-25 president. Morris has been on AYLA’s board since 2019 and has served as secretary, treasurer, and president-elect. Electronic ballots will be sent to members on …
Reprinted with permission from the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP), this article was written by an anonymous author. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges struggling with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder when I was six …
Congratulations to Jackson Walker’s Austin office, which had several attorneys included in the latest edition of Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers annual Top Women Attorneys publication: Partner Marilyn M. Brown. Brown’s practice focuses on the defense in civil litigation. Associate Alyca Riley Garrison. Garrison’s practice focuses on employee benefits. Partner Meghan Griffiths. Griffiths’ practice focuses on administrative law. Partner Amanda Neinast. …
Registration is now live for Bench Bar 2024 May 17, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at Kalahari Resorts, 3001 Kalahari Blvd. Round Rock, TX 78665. The conference has been approved for 5 CLE hours and 1.25 ethics hours. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Go online to register at austinbar.org, where you can register as either an attendee with a sponsorship option …