Austin Bar Blog

Uncontested: President-Elect: Justice Chari Kelly, Secretary: Mary Ellen King, and Treasurer: Maitreya Tomlinson. Amanda Arriaga will become President on July 1, 2022.
 
Directors (4 positions with a two-year term): Sandy Bayne, Elliott Beck, Leslie Boykin, Sam Denton, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, Mike Johnson, David King, Sarah Nicolas, and Shelby O’Brien.

Electronic ballots will be sent to members on Wednesday, April 13 and will close on Wednesday, May 4. Please contact DeLaine Ward if you have any questions.

Congratulations to the participants winning in our contest during Membership Appreciation Week. You showed your knowledge of judicial history in Central Texas by identifying lawyers and judges based on photographs.
 
Winners: Jonathan Buck identified 14 of the 22 lawyers and judges. 2nd: Beryl Crowley, 3rd: Cathy Tabor, 4th: Judge-elect Mary Ann Espiritu.

Join us at Hilgers House for a week of activities as we show our appreciation for you. Great food and Prizes!

Tuesday: Taco & Tech Tuesday from 8:00-10:00am
Wednesday: Wellness Wednesday from 8:00-10:00am
Thursday: Throwback Thursday (Virtual Event)
Friday: FriYAY Friday from 5:30-7:00pm

Also, the following free CLES will be presented online during Member Appreciation Week:

Tuesday: Legal Standards & Ethical Duties in Technology Competence
Wednesday: How Trauma Affects Lawyers and What to do About It
Thursday: Lessons Learned as a Seasoned Attorney with Judge Soifer
Friday: Texas Marijuana Criminal Law & Local Enforcement

Find more information here!

Thomas Michael Davis ended his 28 year battle with cancer surrounded by his family Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Mike, a lifelong resident of Austin, was born November 26, 1952. He was a graduate of the University of Texas and an honors graduate of St. Mary's Law School. In 1993 Mike, his father Tom Davis, and Mike Slack founded Slack Davis Sanger. Mike was certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and he was a selected for membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He was extensively published and was in demand as a lecturer on advanced personal injury topics and was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer. Read his full obituary here.

The Austin Bar has teamed with the ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice to co-sponsor an emergency webinar on April 7th dealing with Ukraine’s Refugee Crisis as millions of refugees are streaming from Ukraine into neighboring countries. Soon other countries, including the United States, will be receiving these refugees who were forced to leave their homes with very little and few hopes. This webinar will address resettlement and many other issues associated with this migration.
 
Date: Thursday, April 7, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
Format: Free non-CLE Webinar
Register Here

Check-out the elections page for insight on the nominees seeking election to the Board of Directors for the Austin Bar Association. Election will be held April 13 – May 4.

Jo Betsy Lewallen Szebehely, 87, a lifelong Austinite, died on March 16, 2022, after a brief illness. She was a Partner at Hearn, Knolle, Lewallen, Livingston & Holcomb for 9 years and then in private practice until she retired in 1999. During this time, she offered considerable pro-bono professional services and community volunteer services. See the full obituary here.

Please see the 2023 Travis County Civil District Courts Schedule here.

I Got a Feeling That Friday's Gonna Be a Good Good Night! Join us at the Austin Country Club for Homecoming! Our event begins at 7pm on April 22. This semi-formal event is like one you’ve never seen! The annual gala is held to raise funds for the Austin Bar Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Austin Bar Association. 

This CLE provides you with an overview of law and policy surrounding refugees and asylum seekers in the United States. We will cover our nation's historical treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, a rundown of asylum law, and talk about how lawyers can get involved assisting asylum seekers today. Participants are encouraged to take a pro-bono case at the conclusion of this CLE.

Speakers:
Lindsay Goldford Gray, CEO, VECINA
Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Attorney/CEO, Lincoln-Goldfinch Law

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT

Learn more and register here.