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Joel Bennett is a highly respected attorney who has been a legal leader in the Austin area for more than 45 years. He has served as a lieutenant in the armed forces, worked for the Travis County Attorney, been honored by the State Bar of Texas, and been appointed and served as the first judge of the Travis County Adult Drug Court, where he presided over and saved thousands of lives.

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in November 2024. These summaries are prepared by court staff as a courtesy and are not a substitute for the actual opinions. The summaries are overviews of the opinions; please review the entire opinions.

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in November and December 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. COMMERCIAL SPEECH: How to apply the Central Hudson test when an activity is legal under state law but prohibited under supreme federal law. Cocroft v. Graham, 2024

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from June 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of January 6, 2024. JURY DELIBERATIONS ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL: Appellate court could not conclude that defendant was denied assistance of counsel during jury deliberations when

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during November and December 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of January 9, 2025. SUPERSEDEAS: Court affirms order increasing bond amount. New Braunfels Stewardship Props., LLC v. Circle F Invests., LP, No. 03-24-00282-CV (Tex. App.—Austin

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most complex and impactful injuries encountered in injury cases. These injuries often lack visible symptoms, yet profoundly affect a person’s quality of life. Incorporating advanced medical insights from biomechanics, vestibular science, neurovisual medicine, and subconcussive injury research into legal strategies can provide attorneys with compelling evidence to prove causation, highlight injury severity, and secure appropriate compensation for their clients.

On the Move Congratulations to Jennifer Banda, who has been hired as the new executive director of the Center for Women in Law at UT Law. Jennifer has more than 25 years’ experience in state and federal government relations and was most recently senior vice president for advocacy and public policy at the Texas Hospital Association. She is a graduate

In election years and otherwise, it seems every other day can bring something new to be stressed and despair over when reading or watching the news. When the world feels like it is spiraling out of control and we don’t know what to do in response, it can be easy to feel like our actions don’t really matter and freeze.

Each year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., AYLA coordinates a Day of Service for its members to participate in several community service events and donation drives throughout Austin. The 15th annual MLK Day of Service will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025. This local project is modeled after the national MLK Day of Service, which is

AYLA’s 8th Annual Tailgate for a Cause fundraiser was a great success. For this year’s holiday event, AYLA will be partnering with Partnerships for Children for their Holiday Wishes Program. The tailgate was a great success and helped raise money to provide holiday cheer to families who might not otherwise have the opportunity.