Austin Bar Blog

The 2024 Judicial Preference Poll has closed. The results are below. Of the 2,663 eligible voters, 482 participated.

District Judge, 353rd Judicial District:

Sherine Thomas, 62%, 299 votes

Susana Castillo, 18.3%, 88 votes

Madeleine Connor, 5.6%, 27 votes

Not answered, 14.1%, 68 votes

District Attorney:

Jeremy Sylestine, 41.7%, 201 votes

Jose Garza, 37.1%, 179 votes

Not answered, 21.2%, 102 votes

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5:

Rick "Rico" Olivo, 22.4%, 108 votes

Tanisa Jeffers, 22.2%, 107 votes

Ornela DeSeta, 12%, 58 votes

Not answered, 43.4%, 209 votes

These results are strictly the opinions of the individual attorneys participating in the poll and are not intended as an endorsement of any candidate(s) by the Austin Bar Association or any affiliated organization.

The purpose of the preference poll is to allow the public to see how local attorneys evaluate their colleagues in the legal community.

For each race, Austin Bar members were asked to indicate which candidate they believed was best qualified to serve in the position for which he or she was running. Members did not have to vote in every race. Members cast their votes through BallotBox, an online polling system. Of the 2,663 eligible voters, 482, or 18.1 percent, participate in the poll.

Join the AYLA Health & Wellness Committee for a HIIT/functional training workout class at F45 Downtown! F45 classes combine high intensity interval, circuit, and functional training into one 60 minute workout. Class will start at 11:30 on February 17. Please arrive 15 minutes early at the Hilton Hotel Downtown. Parking will be validated. The men and women's locker rooms also each have a steam room, sauna, heated pool, and heated hot tub that attendees can use on the day of class.

What is F45 Training? F45 Training classes are innovative, high-intensity group workouts that are fast, fun and results-driven. F45 is specifically designed to provide a functional full-body workout while improving energy levels, metabolic rate, strength and endurance. Each innovative class aims to burn 750 calories in just 60 minutes, yielding long-term motivation and results.

F45 Hilton Downtown Austin also features wellness amenities such as a steam room, sauna, hot tub and heated lap pool on the rooftop pool deck with panoramic views of the city.

You're invited to AYLA's February Docket Call!

Date: Feb. 15, 2024

Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Location: Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W 5th St.

Sponsored by Exponent

Register here.

AYLA will host a family-friendly meetup for our members and prospective members at the north location of Central Market on March 2 at 10:30 am. We will meet outside on the patio near the playground. Feel free to bring children and pets! This will be a casual opportunity to mix and mingle with other AYLA members and our families. RSVP here.

Our Fund-a-Need to create grants that will support DEI-related legal services in Central Texas will end on Feb. 9. We're currently halfway to our goal of $50,000.

We need your help to reach this goal! Please donate whatever amount feels right to you.

Nominations for the following awards are now open:

Regina Rogoff Award - given annually to an attorney in Travis County that has demonstrated outstanding service in the public/non-profit sector.

Professionalism Award - honors a lawyer who best exemplifies, by conduct and character, truly professional traits that others in the bar seek to emulate, and whom all in the bar admire.

Joseph C. Parker Jr. Diversity Award - presented to a firm or an individual who has led the way in bringing diversity to Austin’s legal community.

Deadline: March 15, 2024

Access the application here.

The winners will be recognized at Bench Bar 2024 on May 17.

Law students interested in applying for the Texas Access to Justice Internship Program (ATJIP) are invited to use the Austin Bar Foundation's Veterans Legal Assistance Program (VLAP) as the organization/location for their internship proposal. Spring and Fall interns will receive a stipend of $2,500 per semester for 200 hours of work. Summer interns receive a stipend of $5,000 for 400 hours of work. 

For more information on the ATJIP, and to find application materials, click here.

Volunteer for the YMCA Texas Youth & Government State Finals Feb. 1-4!

High school students will compete by presenting bills, proposals, and court cases in the House and Senate chambers at the Capitol, the Capitol auditorium, and at federal and county courthouses in Austin.

Volunteers can sign up to help with set up, breakdown, check-in, lunch, or serve as an evaluator! A legal background is recommended for evaluators but NOT required because training will be provided.

Volunteer for the YMCA Texas Youth & Government State Finals Feb. 1-4!

High school students will compete by presenting bills, proposals, and court cases in the House and Senate chambers at the Capitol, the Capitol auditorium, and at federal and county courthouses in Austin.

Volunteers can sign up to help with set up, breakdown, check-in, lunch, or serve as an evaluator! A legal background is recommended for evaluators but NOT required because training will be provided.

Volunteer for the YMCA Texas Youth & Government State Finals Feb. 1-4!

High school students will compete by presenting bills, proposals, and court cases in the House and Senate chambers at the Capitol, the Capitol auditorium, and at federal and county courthouses in Austin.

Volunteers can sign up to help with set up, breakdown, check-in, lunch, or serve as an evaluator! A legal background is recommended for evaluators but NOT required because training will be provided.