The Austin Bar has launched its Legal Expert Network to provide the media valuable sources when reporting on important cases, legal matters, legislation, and more. The Austin Bar is committed to being a resource connecting the legal profession with the larger community. Part of the Austin Bar’s mission is to enhance the legal profession through education. We can accomplish this …
Austin Bar Members Appear Before SCOTX to Deliver Oral Arguments
Family Law – Divorce Decrees Douglas W. Alexander Alexander Dubose & Jefferson, for Petitioner In The Matter of The Marriage of Carlos Y. Benavides, Jr. and Leticia R. Benavides The issues in this case are (1) whether, and in what circumstances, a guardian may petition for divorce on behalf of a ward and (2) the effect of one spouse’s death on the …
District & County Court Jury Trial Verdicts October 2024
Editor’s Note: The monthly jury trial verdicts update is first published through Bar Code and the Austin Bar app. Download the app today on either the App Store or the Google Play Store. CIVIL Fortunate Payne and Josselyn Martinez v. Cynthia Owens Cause No: D-1-GN-22-002136 Judge: Daniella Deseta Lyttle, 261st Civil District Court Dates: Aug. 5 – 7, 2024 Attorneys:Plaintiffs: …
Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update October 2024
The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from February 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of Sept. 5, 2024. LESSER-INCLUDED OFFENSES: Assault on a public servant vs. resisting arrest. Resisting arrest was not a lesser-included offense of assault on a …
Third Court of Appeals Civil Update October 2024
The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of Sept. 13, 2024. TRIAL PROCEDURE: Commercial-speech exemption barred TCPA dismissal. Carpenter v. Daspit Law Firm, PLLC, No. 03-22-00466-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 14, 2024, no pet. h.) …
Federal Civil Update October 2024
The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in August 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Federal agency lacked statutory authority to promulgate decisional rules for insurance rate arbitrators. Tex. Med. Ass’n v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., 110 F.4th 762 …
Come Tailgate for a Cause!
Join AYLA for our annual Tailgate for a Cause! On Nov. 9 at 9 a.m., we will gather at the Travis Café Outdoor Concourse, 1760 Brazos St., between 17th and 18th. This year we are benefitting Partnerships for Children on its Holiday Wishes program. This program delivers holiday gifts to Central Texas children in Child Protective Services. The program has …
Leadership Academy Now Accepting Applications
The Austin Young Lawyers’ Association and Austin Bar Association are excited to invite AYLA members to apply for the 2025 Leadership Academy, which is entering its 14th year! The goal of the Leadership Academy is to foster leadership skills in the Austin legal community, expand and develop relationship networks, and to assist Austin-area lawyers in making a difference in our …
AYLA Member Spotlight: John Boone
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I moved to Austin with my then-fiancée, now wife, in June of 2021. I had just graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, and my wife was working remotely because of the pandemic. We were in the position of being able to pick and choose where we …
The Myth of the High-Functioning Lawyer Addict
It is a myth that an individual seemingly functioning well at work could not also be an addict and suffering from severe emotional trauma. My own experience painted a picture of an individual who continued to maintain the façade of functionality at work despite the extent of my alcohol and drug use. I looked like a functional lawyer, but I …