October 2025

Featured image for “Judge Sam Sparks: “One You Should Watch to Learn How to be a Good Lawyer””
October 6, 2025

Judge Sam Sparks: “One You Should Watch to Learn How to be a Good Lawyer”

When he passed away in mid-September, Judge Sam Sparks was properly recognized by members of the Austin Bar for his long and distinguished service as a district judge of the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas.
by Mike Thompson Jr.
Featured image for “Austin Bar President’s Column: Using Our Austin Bar Committees Effectively for a Productive Bar Year”
October 6, 2025

Austin Bar President’s Column: Using Our Austin Bar Committees Effectively for a Productive Bar Year

We know that committees are important to organizations. Like other organizations, bar associations see the value in committees and tend to create many of them. But why are they important? And does their creation automatically enhance a bar association?
by Maitreya Tomlinson
Featured image for “AYLA President’s Column – My Challenge to You: Give Yourself Grace”
October 6, 2025

AYLA President’s Column – My Challenge to You: Give Yourself Grace

I graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law and was sworn in to the Texas Bar in 2012. However, there are days when I still feel like I’m a baby lawyer. Especially days when I make mistakes or instantly regret saying, or not saying, something. 
by Jenna Malsbary
Featured image for “One Young Lawyer’s Guide to Seeking Balance”
October 6, 2025

One Young Lawyer’s Guide to Seeking Balance

For many of our clients, firms, or agencies, fall is the start of a new fiscal year. Several of us are probably instrumental in the labor required to prepare a new budget. Well, my offering to this month’s Austin Lawyer readers is to reflect on a different kind of budget–the budget for your personal energy. 
by Roslyn Warner
Featured image for “AYLA Member Spotlight: Melissa Pina”
October 6, 2025

AYLA Member Spotlight: Melissa Pina

We recently sat down with AYLA member Melissa Pina to feature in our Member Spotlight.
by Austin Bar Association
Featured image for “October 2025 Federal Civil Update”
October 6, 2025

October 2025 Federal Civil Update

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent histories are current as of September 8, 2025. Below are recent decisions from the United States Fifth Circuit of Appeals. 
by Ari Cuenin
Featured image for “October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Civil Update”
October 6, 2025

October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Civil Update

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2025. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of September 18, 2025. 
by Laurie Ratliff
Featured image for “October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update”
October 6, 2025

October 2025 Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from March 2025. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of September 5, 2025.
by Zak Hall
Featured image for “August 2025 District & County Court Jury Trial Verdicts”
October 6, 2025

August 2025 District & County Court Jury Trial Verdicts

Here are the Travis County and district court jury trial verdicts for the month of August 2025.
by Velva Price
Featured image for “Federal Permitting and the Judicial Acorn”
October 6, 2025

Federal Permitting and the Judicial Acorn

On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court added another chapter to its evolving project of administrative law reform—this time turning its attention to federal environmental permitting. In Seven County Infrastructure Coalition et al v. Eagle County, Colorado et al, the justices ventured into the thicket of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a statute long celebrated for its environmental ideals but criticized for its procedural backlog.
by Caleb Shook