The 88th Texas Legislature passed a bill that makes hypnosis-induced statements from being introduced as evidence in criminal trials. Senate Bill 338 took effect on Sept. 1, 2023. The bill defines investigative hypnosis as a law enforcement technique using hypnosis to enhance a witness’s recall of an event, including descriptions of people, conversations, and the environment. This is the second …
Austin attorney Gretchen Sims Sween in May 2023 filed a petition for a writ of certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to conduct plenary review or summarily reverse the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ decision in January to uphold the conviction of Robert Roberson. In 2002, Roberson was charged with capital murder in the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki. …
Congratulations to Perkins Coie LLP for being named one of the best places to work by Austin Business Journal. Based out of Seattle, Washington, the Austin office is managed by Andrew Smetana. Congratulations to Robert O’Keefe, who recently started a mediation practice. Robert has mediated a variety of commercial disputes and stands ready to help parties reach a resolution. He …
The Austin Bar Association is proud to recognize our 2023 Austin Bar 100 Club Members. The following firms, government agencies, organizations/schools, and corporate legal departments have 100 percent membership in the Austin Bar. The Austin Bar 100 Club is a distinguished membership that reflects a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and involvement in the community. The Austin …
The Austin Bar Association has been chosen as the best CLE provider in Austin by Texas Lawyer for 2023. The decision was based on a poll conducted by Texas Lawyer of their readers. The Austin Bar ranked as the number one CLE provider in Austin. The Austin Bar previously ranked as the number two CLE provider in Austin in 2022. …
The LGBTQ+ Section of the Austin Bar celebrated Austin Pride with thousands of fellow Austinites on August 12, 2023. The section marched in the parade with members, supporters, and friends, handing out flags, necklaces, and fans for the hot summer night. The parade also provided the opportunity to share the Section’s “know your rights” website with community members through a …
The following is a summary of a selected opinion issued by the Supreme Court of Texas in May 2023. The summary is intended as an overview of selected aspects of the opinion only; please review the entire opinion. PERSONAL JURISDICTION: “Dieselgate” auto manufacturers subject to specific personal jurisdiction in Texas, despite contacts with Texas being undifferentiated from those with other …
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 …
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 …
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 …