The History of the Justice Mack Kidd Fund

I worked with Justice Mack Kidd on the Third Court of Appeals for 10 years in the ’90s. He was invariably jovial and upbeat. But he had a secret that few people knew about: He and some other members of his family of origin suffered from depression.  A few years after I left the Court in 2001, I heard Judge …

Stories of Recovery: Hope Over Fear

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with the permission of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-TLAP (8527) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. At the ripe age of 41, my entire life has been leading up to the …

Briefs September 2024

On the Move Congratulations to Glorieni Azeredo, who has joined Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo. In her career, Azeredo has brought five cases to jury trial, secured two appellate victories, and participated in hundreds of special commissioners’ hearings. She previously served as the Houston-area team lead for the Texas Attorney General’s Office’s Transportation Division. She is a graduate of Baylor …

AYLA President’s Column: So This is the New Year

With August and September comes a new school year and a new bar year! AYLA has lots in store as always, and we are excited to build on its legacy of excellent community service, professionalism, and fun. This new bar year is especially significant for me both personally and professionally, as the beginning of my term as AYLA president coincides …

Do You Know About the Personal Crisis Assistance Program?

Is your practice suffering because of a personal crisis? Are you enduring tough times, but do not know where to turn? The Personal Crisis Assistance Program (PCAP) is here to help in your time of need. PCAP was created in 1996 to support Austin-area attorneys who face an immediate need for temporary financial or practice assistance due to a personal …

AYLA Committees Want YOU!

Fall is a fantastic time to join the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA)! Join now for 2025 and you’ll also get the rest of 2024 free! Joining an AYLA committee is the perfect way to get involved and meet fellow attorneys. AYLA members can join any of the following committees: The Crawfish Boil Fundraiser Committee plans and organizes an annual …

Federal Civil Update September 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in June 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. CONTRACTS: Force majeure provision in natural gas supply contract did not require showing that performance is impossible. MIECO, LLC v. Pioneer Nat. Res. USA, 2024 WL 3418718 (5th Cir. …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update September 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during June and July 2024. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of Aug. 12, 2024.  FAMILY LAW: Court grants mandamus relief in contempt proceeding. In re Kozinn, No. 03-23-00748-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 6, 2024, orig. proceeding) (mem. …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update September 2024

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals in January 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent history is current as of Aug. 6, 2024. TRIAL TESTIMONY — LICENSING STATUS OF WITNESS, RELIABILITY OF WITNESS, RELIABILITY OF OUTCRY WITNESSS, AND “BACKDOOR HEARSAY”: Trial court did not …