Featured image for “Congratulations to 2023 TCWLA Scholarship Fund Awardees!”
Aug. 07, 2023

Congratulations to 2023 TCWLA Scholarship Fund Awardees!

The board of directors of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Scholarship Fund, Inc.  had the honor of awarding $2,000 from four separate scholarships to nine remarkable women attending The University of Texas School of Law.  Most of the awardees were able to attend the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA)’s mentor-mentee luncheon, at which Women’s Month was celebrated with
Featured image for “Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 1”
Aug. 07, 2023

Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 1

This is the first in a series of eight articles about the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project. The Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project delivered its recommendations to the Travis County Commissioners in March 2023. The goal of these recommendations is to provide solutions other than jail to address mental health and substance abuse disorders in the county. The project
Featured image for “More Than $50,000 Raised to Honor Judge Yeakel’s Retirement from Federal Bench”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than $50,000 Raised to Honor Judge Yeakel’s Retirement from Federal Bench

The Austin Bar Association and the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association jointly hosted a retirement reception for Judge Lee Yeakel of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas—Austin Division.< More than $50,000 was raised. This money will be used to provide scholarships to students at The University of Texas School of Law. Congratulations to Judge
Featured image for “Austin Black Lawyers Association Honors Trailblazers at 2023 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Black Lawyers Association Honors Trailblazers at 2023 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon

Robynn Fletcher, Anthony “Tony” J. Nelson, and Judge Eric Shepperd were the honorees at the 2023 Austin Black Lawyers Association (ABLA) Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon. The trio was honored for their significant contribution the African American legal community: (L-R): ABLA President Ciara Parks with award winners Judge Eric Shepperd, Robynn Fletcher, and Anthony “Tony” J. Nelson. Robynn Fletcher graduated with
Featured image for “Austin Nonprofit Receives Texas Bar Foundation Grant to Develop Self-Improvement Programming for Incarcerated Girls”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Nonprofit Receives Texas Bar Foundation Grant to Develop Self-Improvement Programming for Incarcerated Girls

The Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) has received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF) to expand its Girl Connect school program to include Texas girls who are involved with the Texas juvenile justice system. Currently, Girl Connect serves girls across 84 program sites throughout Texas, including Austin. Using research-based, trauma-informed techniques, the program… Girls Empowerment
Featured image for “More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo

The fourth Travis County Expunction Expo took place on May 20, 2023. More than 300 applicants had prequalified to have their records expunged. The expo was a joint production of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, the Travis County Attorney’s Office, and the Travis County District Clerk’s Office. Legal services were provided by the Capital Area Private Defender Service, the
Featured image for “New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility”
Aug. 07, 2023

New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility

We are pleased to announce that Austin Bar member attorneys will be able to receive attorney parking cards for the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility (CFCF). We have been studying the parking situation for the past several months and believe we have the space to allow for attorney parking. However, this is a pilot program to make sure
Featured image for “U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues”
Aug. 07, 2023

U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues

The U.S. Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the law and policy issues presented by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In a policy statement published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2023, the office explains how the human-authorship requirement applies to materials containing AI-generated elements…
Featured image for “Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly

AL: What is your background? (Where you grew up, went to school, law school, etc.) CK: I grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, just a stone’s throw from Disney World. I attended the University of Florida for undergrad, where I was in the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant and received an educational delay
Featured image for “Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award”
Aug. 07, 2023

Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) Executive Director Betty Balli Torres received the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Access to Justice Commission (TAJC). Torres received the award at TAJC’s Champions of Justice Gala on April 25 in Austin, in recognition of her contributions to improving Texans’ access to justice The award is named after TAJC’s first
Featured image for “Congratulations to 2023 TCWLA Scholarship Fund Awardees!”
Aug. 07, 2023

Congratulations to 2023 TCWLA Scholarship Fund Awardees!

The board of directors of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Scholarship Fund, Inc.  had the honor of awarding $2,000…
Featured image for “Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 1”
Aug. 07, 2023

Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 1

This is the first in a series of eight articles about the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project. The Travis…
Featured image for “More Than $50,000 Raised to Honor Judge Yeakel’s Retirement from Federal Bench”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than $50,000 Raised to Honor Judge Yeakel’s Retirement from Federal Bench

The Austin Bar Association and the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association jointly hosted a retirement reception for Judge…
Featured image for “Austin Black Lawyers Association Honors Trailblazers at 2023 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Black Lawyers Association Honors Trailblazers at 2023 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon

Robynn Fletcher, Anthony “Tony” J. Nelson, and Judge Eric Shepperd were the honorees at the 2023 Austin Black Lawyers Association…
Featured image for “Austin Nonprofit Receives Texas Bar Foundation Grant to Develop Self-Improvement Programming for Incarcerated Girls”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Nonprofit Receives Texas Bar Foundation Grant to Develop Self-Improvement Programming for Incarcerated Girls

The Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) has received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF)…
Featured image for “More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo

The fourth Travis County Expunction Expo took place on May 20, 2023. More than 300 applicants had prequalified to have…
Featured image for “New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility”
Aug. 07, 2023

New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility

We are pleased to announce that Austin Bar member attorneys will be able to receive attorney parking cards for the…
Featured image for “U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues”
Aug. 07, 2023

U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues

The U.S. Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the law and policy issues presented by the proliferation of…
Featured image for “Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly

AL: What is your background? (Where you grew up, went to school, law school, etc.) CK: I grew up in…
Featured image for “Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award”
Aug. 07, 2023

Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) Executive Director Betty Balli Torres received the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from…