CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of Nov. 18, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131.

CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of Nov. 4, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131.

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR REAPPOINTMENT OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE – AUSTIN, TEXAS

The current term of the office of United States Magistrate Mark P. Lane is due to expire on March 29, 2020. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of U.S. Magistrate Judge Lane to a new eight-year term.

The duties of a United States Magistrate Judge include: (1) the conduct of preliminary proceedings in felony criminal cases; (2) the trial and disposition of misdemeanor criminal cases; (3) the trial of civil cases upon the consent of the litigants, and (4) the conduct of pretrial proceedings, including evidentiary hearings, in civil matters referred to the Magistrate Judge by the Judges of the District Court.

Comments are invited from members of the bar and the public as to whether U.S. Magistrate Judge Lane should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the Court.

All comments should be directed to U.S. District Court, Ms. Lorre K. Kukla, Director of Human Resources, Attn.: Magistrate Reappointment Panel for Judge Lane, 727 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Suite A-403, San Antonio, Texas, 78206. Please mark envelope Personal & Confidential. Comments must be received no later than December 6, 2019.

The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Thank you to the many dedicated volunteers who have participated in Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans (TLTV) over the years. Since the project’s launch in 2010, more than 32,000 veterans have been served by over 11,000 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students through local bar association and legal aid organization veterans legal clinics in Texas. All of your efforts have improved access to justice for our brave veterans and made a difference in their lives. However, there is more work to be done and many veterans remain in need of legal assistance.

We hope you will consider getting involved in TLTV and supporting veterans in honor of Veterans Day in November. Here are a few ways to get involved:

Partner with an existing Veterans Legal Advice Clinic:  Volunteer at a local veterans clinic such as the Austin Bar’s Free Legal Advice Clinic for Veterans.  CLICK HERE for more information.  Or, CLICK HERE to see a list of other clinics held around the state.

Take a Veterans Issues CLE: TexasBarCLE is offering a free CLE course for attorneys who pledge to volunteer to assist a veteran with a divorce case in the upcoming year. You may take the Military Divorce Law Update & Primer online here. The course is accredited for 2 hours of CLE, including .25 hours ethics. If you are interested in this course or other veterans issues CLEs, please visit the TexasBarCLE website to learn more and see additional TexasBarCLE classes available.

Volunteer for Texas Legal Answers: The State Bar’s Legal Access Division hosts Texas Legal Answers, a free, online legal advice clinic for low-income Texans. The site allows individuals who meet certain financial guidelines, and who need basic legal guidance, to log on and post questions, which are answered by volunteer attorneys across the state. The online Q&A style of Texas Legal Answers ensures that rural Texans and others who lack access to traditional legal aid can get help. It also provides a flexible volunteer opportunity for lawyers across the state. The site is mobile friendly and malpractice insurance is provided, through the American Bar Association, for all volunteers answering questions through the site. Those interested in volunteering can visit the website to learn more and sign up.

Thank you for all you do to support Texas veterans. TLTV had a successful year of supporting our service members and is looking forward to continuing this important work. If you have any questions, please contact TLVA or visit their website.

CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of Oct. 7, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131

September 19, 2019

Dear Austin Lawyers:

As you may know, Judges such as myself in Travis County preside over civil child welfare cases filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (“DFPS”) involving allegations of child abuse and neglect.  Right now in Travis County, there are approximately 1000 active child welfare cases involving some 1500 children.  State law requires that each child and indigent parent involved in these cases receive court appointed counsel.  In an effort to ensure these important cases and parties receive quality legal representation, the Travis County Civil District Courts maintain a list of attorneys available for appointment.  Currently, we have a great need for additional attorneys (including English-only attorneys and Bilingual English/Spanish-speaking attorneys) on this appointment list.

Please consider whether you are able to help us serve the children and families of Travis County by applying to add your name to this attorney appointment list, especially if you are an attorney with fluency in both Spanish and English.  Placing your name on the list would mean your agreement to be appointed to represent children or parents in cases in which DFPS is seeking court-ordered family safety services, oversight of foster care placements, legal custody of children and/or termination of parental rights.  You could control the number of cases you receive. I believe you will find that these cases will allow you to perform a meaningful legal service for some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community.

If you would like more information or would like to apply to be added to the list, please contact Annie Melendez, Executive Director at the Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas (512-472-1311). Applications require the completion of minimum mandatory CLE, but LRS can assist in referring you to available trainings to help meet the CLE requirements.  Attorneys with relevant past experience or those who are able to represent Spanish-speaking clients may apply for a CLE waiver.  Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you on the child welfare dockets.

Sincerely,

Judge Darlene Byrne
126th District Court of Travis County

TRAVIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
P. O. BOX 1748
AUSTIN, TEXAS  78767

 

 

CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of Sept. 23, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131

CLICK HERE to view the jury trial schedule at the HMS Courthouse for the week of Sept. 9, 2019.

A text is sent to members on Mondays mornings of each jury trial week with a direct link to this schedule. To opt in, text “Austinbar” to 313131

Dying Father’s Wish Fulfilled for His Three Children

In the summer of 2018, a story ran in a number of local news outlets about Glendon Booth, a single father of three who had terminal cancer.  A community of parents from Small Middle school had been contributing to the family with a GoFundMe account, and decided to help them celebrate Christmas in July so they could spend one last holiday together.  The heart-touching story caught the eye of the Austin Bar Association because it mentioned the Booths needed legal help to get the father’s affairs in order.

The newly-formed Pro Bono Committee quickly reached out to the family and offered its assistance. Booth was in hospice care and didn’t have a will. Caitlin Haney Johnston of the CANLAW Clinic drafted a will and was literally driving to hospice with the papers for Booth’s signature when he passed away.

Knowing the family was unable to pay for a service, Denise Hyde, Austin Bar member and long-time chair of the Adoption Day committee, contacted Rodney Molitor, president of Cook-Walden Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. Molitor and Cook-Walden have long been the major donor and supporter of the Austin Bar’s annual Adoption Day event. When he learned about the family’s struggles, he arranged to not only donate a memorial service, but a burial plot as well.

Before he passed away, Booth had made his wishes for his children’s future clearly known.  He wanted family friend Jennifer Hidrogo to adopt them. Hyde quickly stepped in to make it happen. For over a year, she has worked on this case, first handling a separate suit that terminated the mother’s parental rights, and then filing for adoption.   According to Hyde, “The father’s express wishes for his children had been for them to be with Jennifer Hidrogo.  Jenni is a wonderful woman, selfless and nurturing, and she loves these children and they love her.”

On Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, the adoption was finalized by Judge Karin Crump of the 250^th Civil District Court.  The adoption celebration was attended by guardian ad litem Bertha Cruz-Gaede of the Travis County Domestic Relations Office (who waived their fees for this case) and Brian Gosher, General Manager of the Cook-Walden Funeral Home that handled Booth’s service.   The children carried a framed photograph of their father at the proceeding.

CLICK HERE to read the Austin American Statesman article from Aug. 25, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulak’s New Role Begins on Sept. 1, 2019.

At the Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2019 meeting of the civil and criminal district judges, the Honorable Tim Sulak was elected as the Travis County Local Administrative Judge, effective Sept. 1, 2019.

The former Local Administrative Judge, the Honorable Lora J. Livingston, was the Local Administrative Judge for the last eight years. She will continue to oversee the judicial duties relating to the new civil and family courthouse.

In a letter dated Aug. 21, 2019, Judge Livingston wrote:

“Congratulations to Judge Tim Sulak on being elected as the new Local Administrative Judge! I have had the great honor and privilege of serving in this position for four terms and I am looking forward to Judge Sulak’s leadership. I owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the many individuals (too many to list here but you know who you are!) who supported me while I served as the Local Administrative Judge.

I want to especially thank Peg Liedke, Warren Vavra, Jacob Stokes, Mark Erwin, Amanda Michael, Lorraine Elzia, Lauri Roberts, Brent McCabe, Mary Jane Lawson and LaSonya Thomas for the extraordinary assistance each of them provided me during my tenure. I offer special thanks to my judicial colleagues for their confidence in me and support of me over the past eight year. Onward toward justice!”