Featured image for “More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo

The fourth Travis County Expunction Expo took place on May 20, 2023. More than 300 applicants had prequalified to have their records expunged. The expo was a joint production of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, the Travis County Attorney’s Office, and the Travis County District Clerk’s Office. Legal services were provided by the Capital Area Private Defender Service, the
Featured image for “New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility”
Aug. 07, 2023

New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility

We are pleased to announce that Austin Bar member attorneys will be able to receive attorney parking cards for the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility (CFCF). We have been studying the parking situation for the past several months and believe we have the space to allow for attorney parking. However, this is a pilot program to make sure
Featured image for “U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues”
Aug. 07, 2023

U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues

The U.S. Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the law and policy issues presented by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In a policy statement published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2023, the office explains how the human-authorship requirement applies to materials containing AI-generated elements…
Featured image for “Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly

AL: What is your background? (Where you grew up, went to school, law school, etc.) CK: I grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, just a stone’s throw from Disney World. I attended the University of Florida for undergrad, where I was in the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant and received an educational delay
Featured image for “Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award”
Aug. 07, 2023

Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) Executive Director Betty Balli Torres received the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Access to Justice Commission (TAJC). Torres received the award at TAJC’s Champions of Justice Gala on April 25 in Austin, in recognition of her contributions to improving Texans’ access to justice The award is named after TAJC’s first
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update July/August 2023”
Aug. 07, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update July/August 2023

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals from January 2023. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinion. The subsequent history is current as of May 31, 2023. SEARCH AND SEIZURE – NATURE OF POLICE ENCOUNTER: Trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying DWI defendant’s motion to suppress
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Win TYLA Awards”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Bar Members Win TYLA Awards

Congratulations to the Austin Bar’s new president, Justice Chari Kelly of the Third Court of Appeals, who won the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Texas Young Lawyers Association! Kelly also won this year’s Mentor Award from the Austin Young Lawyers Association. Congratulations to Dominique McLeggan-Brown, attorney adviser at the U.S. Economic Development Administration! McLeggan-Brown won the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Awarded for Their Austin Lawyer Articles”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Bar Members Awarded for Their Austin Lawyer Articles

Three Austin Bar Association members were recently honored by the State Bar of Texas for their writing. The “Stars of Texas Bars” presents several awards each year for outstanding articles published by local bar associations. The Austin Bar submitted articles published in Austin Lawyer between May 2022 and April 2023 to be considered for the awards. (L-R): Former State Bar of Texas
Featured image for “Briefs July/August 2023”
Aug. 07, 2023

Briefs July/August 2023

Congratulations to Zach Daniel of Bathaee Dunne for his election to the Austin Black Lawyers Association board of directors! Daniel will serve as treasurer of ABLA. Daniel previously served as ABLA CLE Committee chair. Congratulations to Robynn Fletcher, who was elected to the Austin Black Lawyers Foundation board of directors as both secretary and trustee. Congratulations to Amber Goodwin, assistant
Featured image for “Meet AYLA’s 2023-24 President: Sarah Harp”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet AYLA’s 2023-24 President: Sarah Harp

Sarah Harp is an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. She works in the Criminal Appeals Division and was formerly a law clerk with the agency. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to moving to Texas, she
Featured image for “More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo”
Aug. 07, 2023

More Than 300 Prequalify to Have Criminal Records Expunged at 4th Travis County Expunction Expo

The fourth Travis County Expunction Expo took place on May 20, 2023. More than 300 applicants had prequalified to have…
Featured image for “New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility”
Aug. 07, 2023

New Austin Bar Member Benefit Alert: Attorney Parking at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility

We are pleased to announce that Austin Bar member attorneys will be able to receive attorney parking cards for the…
Featured image for “U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues”
Aug. 07, 2023

U.S. Copyright Office Launches Initiative to Examine AI Issues

The U.S. Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the law and policy issues presented by the proliferation of…
Featured image for “Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet the Austin Bar’s New President: Justice Chari Kelly

AL: What is your background? (Where you grew up, went to school, law school, etc.) CK: I grew up in…
Featured image for “Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award”
Aug. 07, 2023

Betty Balli Torres Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) Executive Director Betty Balli Torres received the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from…
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update July/August 2023”
Aug. 07, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update July/August 2023

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals from January 2023. The…
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Win TYLA Awards”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Bar Members Win TYLA Awards

Congratulations to the Austin Bar’s new president, Justice Chari Kelly of the Third Court of Appeals, who won the Outstanding…
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Awarded for Their Austin Lawyer Articles”
Aug. 07, 2023

Austin Bar Members Awarded for Their Austin Lawyer Articles

Three Austin Bar Association members were recently honored by the State Bar of Texas for their writing. The “Stars of…
Featured image for “Briefs July/August 2023”
Aug. 07, 2023

Briefs July/August 2023

Congratulations to Zach Daniel of Bathaee Dunne for his election to the Austin Black Lawyers Association board of directors! Daniel…
Featured image for “Meet AYLA’s 2023-24 President: Sarah Harp”
Aug. 07, 2023

Meet AYLA’s 2023-24 President: Sarah Harp

Sarah Harp is an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. She works in the…