Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin (March/April 2024)

Tarrant County Bar Association

1315 Calhoun Street

Fort Worth, TX 76102

817.338.4092 ▪ www.tarrantbar.org

2023-2024 Officers

President Lu Pham

President-Elect........................................Scott Lindsey

Vice President Marvina Robinson

Secretary-Treasurer John Brookman

Directors (Term Ends 2024)

Director......................................................Bryan Bruner

Director Lyndsay Newell

Director..................................................Angel Williams

Directors (Term Ends 2025)

Director Robert Blankenship

Director......................................................Joe Cleveland

Director Bill Ray

2023-2024 Appointed Directors

Appointed Director.........................Antoinette Bone

Appointed Director J. B. Strong

Fall 2023 President........................Elizabeth Haslam

Fall 2023 President-Elect....................Ola Campbell

State Bar of Texas Ex Officio Members

Director (Term Ends 2024).........Kimberly Naylor

Director (Term Ends 2025) Jeff Cochran

Bar

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

LU PHAM

2023-2024 TCBA President

Ihope you all had a wonderful spring break and are looking forward to our upcoming Bench Bar Conference! TCBA is hard at work planning for our busiest time of the year. During the first quarter, TCBA planned events filled with opportunities to celebrate and support our legal community.

In early February, TCBA honored an impressive group of attorneys at our annual 50 Year Attorneys Luncheon. During the program, we learned about each of their unique careers and experiences. A special thanks to 50 Year Lawyer Chair Michael Heiskell for leading the luncheon and helping us continue TCBA’s long tradition of celebrating our legacy of professionalism and achievement.

Also helping us kick off February, the Holiday Party and Bench Bar Committees hosted a Mardi Law Social, providing an opportunity for our members to network and enjoy some camaraderie while sampling delicious beignets and strong chickory coffee as we all waited on Brad Dowell to dish out his famous homecooked jambalaya.

In March, the Women in the Law Luncheon celebrated the accomplishments of female attorneys. This year’s theme —Serve, Stand Up, and Speak Out!—focused on the many women leaders in our profession and the impact they have had, and continue to have, in our profession. Attendees were treated to an inspirational presentation by Carter Casteel who shared her journey and the hurdles she has overcome, reminding us of the progress we have made and the work that lies ahead as a profession. Thanks to the Women in the Law Committee, chaired by Andrea Palmer and Shelby White, for organizing an amazing program.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you at the 29th annual Bench Bar Conference, one of our long-standing tradition that provides a venue to relax, learn, and network with other attorneys and judges. This year we are excited to host the Conference at the Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa in Frisco. Bench Bar is my favorite event of the year because it provides an opportunity for all of our membership, regardless of our area of practice or how long we have practiced, to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere. The CLE program will include three tracks: civil law, family law, and criminal law. And yes, there will be plenty of fun-filled events, including Lawyer Olympics, Casino Night, and Judges’ Golf Cup Tournament. Please bring your spouse

and family for a nice weekend. Thanks to our sponsors, Chair Melissa Wilks, and the Bench Bar Committee for planning the event.

In May, we hope to see you at the Ashton Depot on May 1 for our annual Law Day Awards as we honor legal excellence, integrity, and professionalism among our members.

Celebrating Law Day 2024’s Award Recipients

Blackstone Award

Mark G. Daniel

Daniel, Moore, Evans, Biggs, Decker, and Smid

Silver Gavel Award

Judge David L. Evans

Eighth Administrative Judicial Region

Professionalism Award

James M. Whitton

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Spencer Mainka

Pham Harrision, LLP

Outstanding Mentor Award

Judge Melody Wilkinson

17th District Court

Liberty Bell Award

Steve Shaw

CASA of Tarrant County

More information on Law Day 2024 on page 30

Keep these events in mind and don’t forget to take advantage of other TCBA social and professional development opportunities in the upcoming months. For a comprehensive list of our upcoming CLE and professional development events, please visit the TCBA’s official event calendar at www.tarrantbar.org. g

YLA SNAPSHOT

ELIZABETH HASLAM

2023-2024 TCYLA President

Once again, I am sincerely grateful for all of the time

and effort our amazing TCYLA Board members put into making TCYLA such a great organization.

We kicked off 2024 with a Judges Panel featuring Judge Pierson, Judge Rymell, and Judge Hrabal of the Tarrant County Courts at Law and moderated by the renowned Chuck Noteboom. Our County Court Judges shared their insights from the bench including what to expect in their courtrooms from hearings to ad litems as well as opportunities to be more involved in the Tarrant County court system. Our March CLE was presented by Tarrant County Bar President, Lu Pham who covered Employment Law Updates and Latest Trends. We are always appreciative of the Tarrant County Judiciary and Bar Leaders who generously make time for the young lawyers in their community.

On March 23, TCYLA and State Bar of Texas PresidentElect Candidate, Denise Scofield, served lunch at the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth. Special thanks to Denise Scofield for not only sponsoring this community service opportunity but also for driving up from Houston to help us prepare a hot meal for the families at RMH.

We are currently in the middle of our March Madness Bracket Challenge spearheaded by Paul Farmer. Natalie Irwin and Jared Hendrix are currently tied for first place with Maritza Sanchez in third place. Follow TCYLA Bracket Challenge on ESPN.com for the rest of the Big Dance. Password: tortsarecool

UPCOMING CLES

Join us at 12:00 p.m. on April 9 at Reata as we welcome

Judges Chris Taylor, Susan McCoy, Megan Fahey, and Kimberly Fitzpatrick for a Judges Panel on Discovery.

Our Mental Health Initiative begins June 11 with Kate Casey, LPC, JD. This is a six-part series of FREE CLE providing strategies and tools for tackling Sleep & Stress, Anxiety & Depression, QPR Training (Suicide Prevention Training), Trauma Informed Lawyering, Compassion Fatigue & Burnout, and Impostor Syndrome. This initiative was generously funded by the participants and sponsors of our January Chili CookOff.

SOFTBALL

Softball kicked off in March and is going well! We expect this team to knock it out of the park again this season each Wednesday at Gateway Park in Fort Worth.

PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT ORDER ON THE COURT IS BACK!

Sponsored by Varghese Summerset, MAG Law, PLLC, and Select Title, this year’s Pickleball Tournament will be Friday April 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Chicken and Pickle. Teams are $300, individual participants are $100, non-member spectators are $30, and members and judiciary are free.

SIGN UP NOW!

Any questions? Contact Paul Farmer by email at paul.farmer@bondsellis.com.

Defending champions are Judge Robb Catalano, Zach Ashford, and Trevor Cantrell from the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

Please note Spring Fiesta has been moved to May 9. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are now available! If you have any questions about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, reach out to Ola Campbell, our fabulous President-Elect, at OCampbell @OHC-Law.com.g

From Left: Stefan Garcia, Elizabeth Haslam, Ola Campbell, Scott Prescher, Kara McHorse, Denise Scofield, Maritza Sanchez & Family, Kelsey Linendoll, and John Easter

Members of the 2023-2024 100 Club

*List Reflected Below is as of March 15, 2024

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C

Albert, Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP

Anderson & Cummings, LLP

Baker Monroe, PLLC

Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP

Blaies & Hightower, LLP

Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.

Broude Jennings & McGlinchey PC

Cook Children’s Health Care System

– Legal Department

Dally & Webb Family Law, PLLC

Decker Jones, P.C.

Dismuke & Waters, P.C.

Forshey & Prostok, LLP

Freeman Mills P.C.

Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C.

Griffith, Jay, & Michel, LLP

Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.

Harrison Steck, P.C.

Haynes and Boone, LLP

Holland Johns & Penny LLP

Jackson Walker LLP

K & L Gates LLP

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Killen & Dennis PC

KoonsFuller, P.C.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

McDonald Sanders, P.C

Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P.

Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP

Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC

Nelson Bumgardner Conroy PC

Noteboom Law Firm

Padfield & Stout, LLP

Pham Harrison, LLP

Phelps Dunbar LLP

Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, LLP

Ray | Peña | McChristian, P.C.

Robbins Travis PLLC

Ross & Matthews P.C.

Second Court Of Appeals

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office

Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam, LLP

The Blum Firm, P.C.

The Colaneri Firm, P.C.

Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC

Underwood Law Firm, PLLC

Varghese Summersett PLLC

Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

Wick Phillips

Winstead PC

To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law firm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department with four or more members must attain 100% TCBA membership compliance for the 2023-2024 bar year. This qualifies them for the “100 Club.” The firms/organizations listed above have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club membership for the new bar year.

Any firm/organization that qualifies in the future will have its name published in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for this bar year. TCBA takes pride in the participation of these law firms and other groups. The new bar year began on July 1. If you have not paid your renewal invoice, please contact Carolina Ibarra at carolina@tarrantbar.org.

ASK JUDGE BOB

Civil and Criminal

by Judge Bob McCoy

Judge Bob, how does one decide whether a particular state agency’s statement constitutes a rule?

“We consider the intent of the agency, the prescriptive nature of the guidelines, and the context in which the agency statement was made.” … “The core concept is that the agency statement must in itself have a binding effect on private parties.”

TCEQ v. Friends of Dry Comal Creek, 664 S.W.3d 506, 520 (Tex. App.—Austin 2023).

THE PACK’S MONTHLY

PARAPROSDAKIAN (a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous)

Your argument is sound, just sound, lots of sound.

THE PACK’S QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The disposition of noble dogs is to be gentle with people they know and the opposite with those they don’t know… How, then, can the dog be anything other than a lover of learning since it defines what’s its own and what’s alien.

—Plato

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.Miranda Warnings

Miranda and Article 38.22 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure deem statements produced by custodial interrogation to be inadmissible unless the accused is first warned that (1) he has the right to remain silent, (2) his statement may be used against him, (3) he has the right to have a lawyer present prior to and during any questioning, and (4) if he is unable to hire a lawyer, he has the right to have a lawyer appointed. Barnes v. State, 665 S.W.3d 192 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2023).

2. Exigent Circumstances

Exigent circumstances, when they exist, allow police to seize

evidence they reasonably believe to contain evidence of a crime, such as a murder, to prevent the evidence from being destroyed. Rafiq v. State, 661 S.W.3d 827 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 2022).

3. Search and Seizure

“A search incident to arrest permits officers to search a defendant, or areas within the defendant’s immediate control, to prevent concealment or destruction of evidence.” Additionally, it is reasonable for an officer to search incident to arrest to remove any weapons that might be used to resist arrest or effect an escape.

Price v. State, 662 S.W.3d 428 (Tex.Crim.App. 2020).

4. Jailhouse Witnesses

A jailhouse-witness instruction informs the jury it cannot rely on jailhouse-witness testimony unless there is also other independent evidence connecting the defendant to the offense.

Martinez v. State, 662 S.W.3d 496 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2018).

5. Lesser-included Offense

A defendant is entitled to submission of a lesser-included offense only if the following two-pronged test is satisfied: (1) the requested lesser offense is in fact a lesser-included offense of the charged offense, and (2) there is some evidence in the record that would permit a jury to rationally find that, if the defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of the lesser-included offense.

Ransier v. State, 670 S.W.3d 646 (Tex.Crim.App. 2023).

6. Expectation of Privacy

When deciding whether person has reasonable expectation of privacy in place or object searched, factor that court may consider include: (1) whether person had proprietary or possessory interest in place searched; (2) whether person’s presence in or on place searched was legitimate; (3) whether person had right to exclude others from place; (5) whether place searched was put to private use; and (6) whether person’s claim of privacy is consistent with historical notion of privacy.

King v. State, 670 S.W.3d 653 (Tex.Crim.App. 2023).

7. Evidence

In determining whether the probative value of evidence is substantially outweighed by a danger of unfair prejudice, the court must balance: (1) the inherent probative force of the proffered item of evidence along with (2) the proponent’s need for that evidence against (3) any tendency of the evidence to

Noah Abigail & Bathsheba

Elijah

suggest decision on an improper basis, (4) any tendency of the evidence to confuse or distract the jury from the main issues, (5) any tendency of the evidence to be given undue weight by a jury that has not been equipped to evaluate the probative force of the evidence, and (6) the likelihood that presentation of the evidence will consume an inordinate amount of time or merely repeat evidence already admitted.

Crumley v. State, 670 S.W.3d 799 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2023).

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. Unconscionable Contract

Under Texas law, an unconscionable contract is unenforceable. “The theory behind unconscionability in contract law is that courts should not enforce a transaction so one-sided, with so gross a disparity in the values exchanged, that no rational contracting party would have entered the contract.

Houston An USA, LLC v. Shattenkirk, 669 S.W.3d 392, 395 (Tex. 2023).

2. Purposeful Availment

Whether a nonresident defendant has “purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities in Texas” is guided by three considerations:

- “Only the defendant’s contacts with the forum are relevant, not the unilateral activity of another party or a third person”;

- “The contacts relied upon must be purposeful,” not “random, fortuitous, or attenuated”; and

- The defendant “must seek some benefit, advantage, or profit by availing itself of Texas’s jurisdiction.

“This analysis assesses the quality and nature of the contacts, not the quantity.”

State v. Volkswagen Aktingesellschaft, 669 S.W. 3d 399, 413 (Tex. 2023).

3. Collateral Estoppel

To invoke collateral estoppel successfully, a party must establish the following elements: (1) the facts sought to be litigated in the second action were fully and fairly litigated in the first action; (2) those facts were essential to the judgment in the first action; and (3) the parties were cast as adversaries in the first action.

Wilson v. Fleming, 669 S.W. 3d 450, 457 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).

4. Final Judgment

Judgment is final for purposes of appeal if it either (1) actually disposes of all claims and parties then before the court, regardless of its language or (2) states with “unmistakable clarity” that it is intended as a final judgment as to all claims and all parties.

CSealy ER v. Free Standing ER Managers, 669 S.W.3d 488, 493 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2022).

5. Ambiguity

Even if a contract is unambiguous as a matter of law, we may

still consider the objective facts and circumstances surrounding the context of the parties’ contract as an aid in the construction of the contract’s language.

Rustic Natural Res. V. De Midland III, 669 S.W.3d 494, 501 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2022).

6. Agreed Judgments

Agreed judgments are construed in the same manner that contracts are. An agreed judgment is “contractual in nature and in effect is a written agreement between the parties as well as an adjudication.” However, agreed judgments are “binding only as to the parties to the agreement and not as to any other party … unless the other parties are bound by the doctrine of virtual representation.”

Perdido Properties v. Devon Energy Prod., 669 S.W.3d 535, 547 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2023).

7. Fraudulent Inducement

The elements of fraudulent inducement are: “(1) a material misrepresentation, (2) made with knowledge of its falsity or asserted without knowledge of its truth, (3) made with the intention that it should be acted on by the other party, (4) which the other party relied on, and (5) which caused injury.”

Id. In order for fraudulent inducement to exist, there must be a promise of some future performance “made with a present intent not to perform.”

Perdido Properties v. Devon Energy Prod., 669 S.W.3d 535, 565 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2023).

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Justice must not only be seen to be done. It must be seen to be believed.

—J.B. Morton

THE EDITOR’S NOTES FROM THE FARM

To get ahead, bring your try and leave your quit at home. g

. . . AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SECTIONS

By Tracy Card, Office Manager

Spring into Action: Stay Up-to-Date with CLE Sessions!

Welcome to spring! As we enter the new calendar year, are you in need of CLE credits? Your sections have been hosting some wonderful CLE sessions featuring great speakers who will help keep you up-to-date on the latest news and developments within your area of

law. If you haven't participated in any of these sessions yet, I encourage you to do so. Make sure to check out our calendar of events regularly to stay informed about the exciting events your sections have planned. g

A dvertise

in TCBA’s Bar Bulletin

The Tarrant County Bar Association’s award winning* Bar Bulletin is a multi-faceted journal that is published six times a year for the TCBA’s members. It includes substantive articles, as well as information about membership events and activities. The Bar Bulletin is distributed digitally and by hard copy to the TCBA’s membership. Each issue reaches an average of 2500 readers through email and social media. It is available online on the TCBA’s website.

BEST OVERALL NEWSLETTER

Advertising rates vary, depending on the size and frequency. Rates are available by contacting Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org.

*TCBA’s Bar Bulletin received the 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 Division III “Stars of Texas Bars Award for Best Overall Newsletter” from the State Bar of Texas.

ATTORNEY

Jordan Alvarez

Doreen Appiah

Tammy Ardolf

Bryan Berens

Johnathon Blaine

Rita Boyd

Matthew Brinegar

Roman Cano

Jacquelyn Clark

Kirsten Clark

Ben Gill Clements

Deborah Coleman

Jodie Connaughton

Craig Crockett

Jack Darby

Jeffrey Davis

Kimberly Davison

Rachel Dillard Moore

John Domenech

Kristie Falbo

Charles Fillmore

Charles Florsheim

Steve Gordon

Natalie Gullo

Emily Hahn

Orlando Huaman

Milli Jacks

Carson Jones

Kyle Jones

Grant Jordan

David Kline

Madison Ledoux

Demetrius Lee

Dylan Lofton

Melody Louis

Jerris Mapes

McLane Marchbanks

Wes McCutcheon

Megan McKenna

Mary Menefee

Brandon Milligan Welcome

LAWYERS ON THE MOVE &

Brackett & Ellis, P.C. is thrilled to announce that attorney, Jim Creel, has been selected to receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University. This award recognizes Aggies who have achieved excellence in their chosen profession and made meaningful contributions to Texas A&M University and their local communities.

Fort Worth Attorney, Mark G. Daniel, has been honored by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association as recipient of the 2024 Percy Foreman Lawyer of the Year. This is an annual award presented to the outstanding criminal defense lawyer in Texas. The award will be presented in June in San Antonio. Mark was a previous recipient of this prestigious award in 2009. Only two Fort Worth/Tarrant County attorneys have been so honored as the outstanding criminal defense lawyer in Texas: Tim Evans in 1986 and Mark Daniel in 2009 and 2024.

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel is proud to announce the addition of a new Shareholder to their firm, Alicia D. Meinzer.

Alicia D. Meinzer practices primarily in the areas of wealth transfer planning, sophisticated business and estate tax planning, asset protection planning, charitable gift planning, marital property planning, and estate and trust administration of all types and complexity. She is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Brackett & Ellis is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Andrea Paris and associate attorney Xintong Song.

As a former associate of Brackett & Ellis, Andrea Paris has returned to play a key role in the Brackett

& Ellis School Law Section. Andrea has over 10 years of experience as a labor and employment and education lawyer. Andrea received her Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Miami in 2009.

Xintong Song is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School where she received her Juris Doctorate and earned her B.A. from Shanghai International Studies University. Xintong’s practice is focused on the area of commercial litigation.

Alicia D. Meinzer

Xintong Song Andrea Paris Jim Creel Mark G. Daniel

Elle Whitaker

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel is proud to announce the addition of a new Shareholder to their firm, Elle Whitaker.

Elle Whitaker primarily focuses her practice on business transactions, including business and entity planning, buying and selling businesses, and serving as outside counsel with respect to other business-related matters.

Connect with us on

Tarrant County Bar Association

www.linkedin.com/company/ tarrant-county-bar-association

Tarrant County Bar Foundation

www.linkedin.com/company/ tarrant-county-bar-foundation

Courtroom Legend Steve Laird Receives Lola Wright Foundation Award

Honor recognizes those who exemplify highest standards of professional ethics in Fort Worth, a recognition that honors Tarrant County residents who wield significant influence in the community. Additionally, he is a recipient of the annual Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award from the Texas Bar College and the Professional Award from the Tarrant County Bar Association.

The Law Offices of Laird & McCloskey is proud to announce that the Texas Bar Foundation has honored trial lawyer and name partner Steven C. Laird with the Lola Wright Foundation Award for 2024.

Established in 1985, the award is presented in recognition of outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas.

Trial legend Mr. Laird has a long-standing reputation for striving for the highest ethical principles, having been appointed to the Texas Supreme Court’s Professional Ethics Committee and its Task Force Committee on Advertising and Referral Fees in the past.

Citing his national reputation for courtroom success and high legal standards, the Tarrant County Bar Association honored Mr. Laird with the prestigious Blackstone Award in 2021. The Blackstone Award is presented to an attorney whose career embodies ethical ideals, courage and service to the legal profession.

In 2023, Mr. Laird was named to Fort Worth Inc. magazine’s list of the 400 Most Influential People

He is also one of the few attorneys to be Board Certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and designated as a specialist in both Civil Trial and Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The Texas Bar Foundation helps organizations enhance the rule of law, focusing on programs that relate to legal assistance for the underserved, ethics in the legal profession, encouragement of legal research and education of the third branch of government. The Lola Wright Foundation supports children and youth, public health and human services, education, community development and arts and culture. Together they recognize top attorneys in the state who exhibit paramount legal and professional ethics. g

Amarna Muhammad

Emily Nicklas

Sara Norman

Makayla Okamura

Marcus Olds

Hannah Orand

Trevor Paul

Connie Pyatt-Dryden

Tyler Rochon

Jennifer Scherf

Tammy Silvas

Jackson Skinner

David Small

Matthew Smid

Sarah Smith

Andrew St. John

Glenn Strickland

Taha Taha

J.W. Turner

Santos Vargas

Kelly Walling

Robert Weathersby

Marilyn Wells

Mollee Westfall

Justin Wood

JUDICIARY

Judge William Brandt

ASSOCIATE

Ashley Ade-Jagun

Lisa Bernardo

Arron Fowlks

Eric Ward

STUDENT

Obot Antia

Daniel Ben-Daniel

LAWYERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE NEWS

If you are a TCBA member and would like to place an announcement in the Bar Bulletin, we would like to hear from you.

Please submit information by email to Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director, at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org.

Joseph Frizzell

Madison Moore

Malik Price

David Stiles

X'sharelle Tisby

Shelby Wetsel

Tarrant County Bar Association

1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

The Tarrant County Bar Association, established in 1904, is a professional organization comprised of over 2,400 lawyers, judges, law students, and other legal professionals in and around Tarrant County. It offers the best way to connect with the legal community.

For questions about TCBA membership or programs, please contact Carolina Ibarra at carolina@tarrantbar.org.

Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services

2024 Pro Bono Award Spotlight

LLORI SPEARMAN ATTORNEY MENTOR

AWARD

ori Spearman currently works as a family law attorney at Jim Ross Law Group, P.C. and has been practicing family law in Tarrant County for 27 years. She has been volunteering with TCBA for the last 20 years including volunteering with TVAS by assisting non-family law attorneys handle pro bono divorce cases.

Lori volunteers frequently at the TCFLBA legal aid clinic each month and she encourages other family law attorneys to participate. She enjoys mentoring other attorneys because she has been blessed with amazing mentors throughout her career. g

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

John Barnes

Sean Bryan

John Corbin

JUDICIAL PROFILE

By Perry Cockerell, Perry Cockerell, P.C.

Judge Cynthia Favila Terry, 325th District Court

Growing up in a family of six in Flint, Michigan, Judge Cynthia Favila Terry never imagined having a career in Texas as a lawyer and as a state district judge. After attending St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduating from Luke M. Powers Catholic High School where she earned a bachelor’s degree in research psychology from the University of Michigan, she later commuted to Lansing, Michigan where she received her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley, who served on the Michigan Supreme Court and considered to be one of the most distinguished jurists in Michigan history.

In 2007, she was admitted to the Michigan Bar. After graduation she served as the law clerk for Judge Archie Hayman, one of seven district judges in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Michigan that has jurisdiction over matters in Genessee County. She researched and prepared written opinions on civil motions and inmate motions for criminal cases before the court.

After her clerkship ended, she set up a solo practice in Flint, Michigan handling civil, criminal, and family law matters.

From 2009 to 2010 she served as the magistrate for the 68th District Court in Flint, Michigan.

Transition to Texas

After her parents moved to Texas, she fell in love with Tarrant County and decided to make the 1,193 mile move to be close to her parents. Making the transition meant learning Texas law and taking the Texas bar exam. Texas and Michigan have a reciprocity agreement but to qualify to take the Texas bar exam, she had to practice law full time for the immediate preceding five years.

“I didn’t need a job right away. I was trying to get to know the system here.”

To prepare for the bar exam she found the perfect solution. She volunteered for one year as a law clerk for the 352nd District Court presided over by Judge Bonnie Sudderth. She also worked for a law firm in Dallas leading discovery projects.

She passed the Texas bar exam in 2013 and began practicing civil trial law with the firm of Vaughn, Ramsey and Walvoord in Grand Prairie.

In 2014 she established her own law practice in One City Place in downtown Fort Worth under the name of Favila Terry

Law LLC. She handled civil, family law and criminal cases in Tarrant and surrounding counties. She became involved in community affairs and is now a long-time member of the Fort Worth Republican Women serving as Vice-President for more than ten years. She also served as a delegate to the State Republican Convention. She served on her local Parent-Teacher Association board and served on the Santa Fe Youth Services Board. Over the years, she has volunteered for many local nonprofit associations.

Associate Judge of 323rd District Court

In 2019, Alex Kim, Judge of the 323rd District Court since 2019, appointed her as Associate Judge of the 323rd District Court. In that position she handled numerous juvenile delinquency, CPS, and child custody cases.

325th District Court

In 2022 when Judge Judith Wells, 325th District Court announced that she was retiring, a new opportunity opened for her to move to a higher court. In 2022, she won the Republican primary and ran unopposed in the November general election. After serving four years as Associate Judge of the 323rd District Court, she became the elected District Judge of the 325th District Court.

Life in the 325th District Court

A typical work week for the Judge begins with trials on Monday. The Judge hears trials “just about every day of the week.” The morning begins with “what we call walk throughs. And then as soon as we're finished with those, we'll start on our docket which could be pretrial conferences or scheduling order conferences.”

Adoptions

The Judge likes to handle adoptions on Fridays. “That is our preference. Adoptions can be on other days besides Friday. We accommodate whatever day they want them, but we prefer them on Friday.”

Local Rules

The court follows the local rules for the family courts. “I don’t have any special rules. I do require the parties to appear at pretrial scheduling order conferences.”

Orders

If an attorney wants an order signed, it must be walked in person or hand delivered to the court. The court clerk or

coordinator will not print off the order.

Agreed Injunctions Require Client Signatures

As a safeguard, the court requires clients to sign all agreed injunctions.

Scheduling Orders

If a case is three months old, and it does not yet have a scheduling order, “it needs to have a scheduling order. The goal is to get cases moving and closed within 12 months 12 to 18 months.”

To comply with new legislation, the cour will aim to close cases sooner.

Trial Requirements

The Judge handles status conferences for trials on Friday. For all trials (jury and non-jury), the Judge requests that the exhibit lists be delivered two days prior to trial.

For jury trials, the court requests that “attorneys should always come prepared with the charge the first day of trial.”

The Judge requests that the attorneys be respectful in the court room.

“Decorum is very important to both my associate judge and me.”

Her advice to new attorneys is to “learn and implement courtroom decorum.”

Mentor

The Judge advises new attorneys to find a mentor and to sit in and watch in different courts to learn.

Personal Life

In her spare time the Judge spends time with her husband and children.

“I’m just kind of a sports and ballet mom. That’s been my hobby with my kid’s activities, being involved in those and being involved with their schools. I've been on the PTA board for many years. Now I’m taking a break from PTA.”

The Judge is a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Mansfield. g

The Attorney’s Therapist

As a former practicing attorney, Kate understands the overwhelming feelings of stress, burnout, and isolation that often accompany the art of balancing life with the practice of law. Kate will help you evaluate your choices, identify areas for change, and implement a plan which will allow you to become the best version of yourself.

Kate Casey, LPC, JD

PRESENT

How Lawyers Can Protect Democracy

Combating Disinformation Through Legislation & Education

Tuesday, May 7 | Noon – 1PM CST | VIRTUAL

Speakers

Judge Xavier Rodriguez, US District Court Western District of Texas

Barbara McQuade, Univ. of Michigan Law & author of Attack from Within

Join US District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in conversation with Univ. of Michigan Law Prof. Barbara McQuade to discuss how Aamericans can address the threat of disinformation and renew our commitment to democracy. Professor McQuade served as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2010 to 2017 and her book, Attack from Within, is a current NY Times bestseller, see HERE.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR

BENCH BAR XXIX CONFERENCE DETAILS

JOIN FELLOW MEMBERS

Join fellow members of the Bench & Bar at the beautiful Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, April 12-14, 2024 for a memorable opportunity to network and build relationships while enjoying several interesting speakers and presentations. This resort features numerous great amenities, exceptional dining, and a perfect setting for our conference social activities.

RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS

Each returning Bench Bar attendee is challenged to recruit as many first time attendees for Bench Bar XXIX as possible. The attorney who recruits the most first time attendees who register, pay and attend will win a free registration to Bench Bar Conference 2025.

LAWYER OLYMPICS

All first-time (and returning) Bench Bar Conference attendees are encouraged to participate in the annual Lawyer Olympics activity on Friday. Winning teams will be announced and receive their awards at the Saturday evening Awards Dinner.

JUDGES’ CUP

Envy is a powerful emotion! If your name is not engraved on the “Judges’ Cup,” then start practicing now. The traveling Judges’ Cup Trophy will be presented to the winners of the Saturday Golf Tournament during the Saturday evening Awards Presentation.

BARLOW BIG HEART AWARD

James B. Barlow was a loyal attendee and supporter of the TCBA Bench Bar Conference. Jim made everyone feel welcome and was a positive role model for all who attended the conference. In memory and special recognition of him, attendees can nominate a member who actively promotes positive relationships between the bench and bar during the conference. The attendee who is selected will receive the James Barlow Big Heart Award.

SPONSORED EVENTS

Friday afternoon will feature the fan-favorite Lawyer Olympics event (all first-time Bench bar attendees encouraged to attend!) as well as a Whiskey and Wine Tasting event. On Friday evening, we’ll host the Casino Night and Karaoke Contest. You are welcome to come as you are (conference-casual), but prizes and bragging rights will be awarded to the best/most creative 90’s and/or Save by the Bell attire. Saturday afternoon will kick-off our annual Judges’ Cup Tournament (9-hole) and if golf is not your thing -- we’ll have a 90’s Music BINGO activity in the Hospitality Suite going on at the same time. On Saturday evening, conference award recipients will be announced at the Awards Dinner and attire will be similar to Casino Night.

HOTEL ACTIVITIES

The Westin Stonebriar has numerous amenities –an enhanced pool area with waterslide, cabanas, and splash pads; Well & Being Spa, golf, fitness center, TopGolf Swing Suite – and more. Information and applicable charges are available at https://www. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dalsb-the-westindallas-stonebriar-golf-resort-and-spa/overview/.

DIRECTIONS

The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa 1549 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX 75034 972.668.8000

From Fort Worth (approx. 1 hour)

Head east on I-30 E from downtown Fort Worth. Merge onto TX-121 N towards DFW Airport.

Continue on TX-121 N and merge onto TX-121 N/ TX-183 E.

Continue on TX-121 N towards Grapevine.

Merge onto Sam Rayburn Tollway/TX-121 N.

Continue on Sam Rayburn Tollway/TX-121 N and take the exit toward Legacy Drive.

Merge onto TX-121 N.

Turn left onto Legacy Drive.

Turn right onto Stonebriar Way.

The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa will be on your right.

BENCH BAR XXIX CONFERENCE DETAILS

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

9:10 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Breakfast & Check-In (Sunset & Cedar Sage)

Welcome (Sunset)

CIVIL LAW TRACK SPONSORED BY KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP (Barley)

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.

AI - Effective Tools for your Practice

Andrew Gardner, Baron & Budd, P.C.

Civil Panel – Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office

Craig Price, Chief, Civil Division; Ann Diamond, ACDA, Civil Division; and David Hudson, Deputy Chief, Civil Division

Moderated by Cynthia Gustafson, ACDA, Protective Order Unit

Avoiding Guardianship & Probate

Karen Schroeder, Karen Schroeder Attorney at Law

Lunch (Sunset)

Trying a Car Wreck Case: Judges’ Perspective

Judge Don Cosby, 67th District Court; Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick, 342nd District Court; and Judge Melody Wilkinson, 17th District Court

FAMILY LAW TRACK SPONSORED BY KOONSFULLER, P.C. (Bluegrass)

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Litigating Divorces with Closely Held Businesses

Jeff Johnson, Johnson McNulty, PLLC

Who gets Horatio?

Dana Manry, KoonsFuller, P.C.

Spencer Nilsson, Nilsson Legal Group

Kimberly Stoner, KoonsFuller, P.C.

11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.

AI - Effective Tools for your Practice

Andrew Gardner, Baron & Budd, P.C.

Lunch (Sunset)

Judges’ Panel

Judge Patricia Baca Bennett, 360th District Court; Judge Lori DeAngelis, 324th District Court; and Judge Jeff Kaitcer, 322nd District Court

CRIMINAL TRACK SPONSORED BY THE MEDLIN LAW FIRM, PLLC (Foxtail)

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Preservation of Error

Cody Cofer, Cofer Luster Law Firm, P.C.

AI - Effective Tools for your Practice

Andrew Gardner, Baron & Budd, P.C.

When the Glove Doesn’t Fit: Cameras in the Courtroom and Trial Mishaps

Christy Jack, Varghese Summersett PLLC

Letty Martinez, Varghese Summersett PLLC

BENCH BAR XXIX CONFERENCE DETAILS

12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.

2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Lunch (Sunset)

Criminal Panel – Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office

Phil Sorrells, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney; Robb Catalano, First Assistant Criminal District Attorney; Allenna Bangs, Deputy Chief, Criminal Division; Lee Sorrells, Chief, Juvenile Division; and Kim D’Avignon, Chief, Adult Sexual Assault

Lawyer Olympics (Hospitality Suite - King Ranch)

Whiskey & Wine Tasting (Homestead)

Sponsored by Edwards Law, PLLC

Dinner (Sunset)

Casino Night, Sponsored by Law Offices of Laird & McCloskey (Sunset)

Karaoke Contest (Sunset) Sponsorship Available!

Hospitality Suite Open, Sponsorship Available!

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

10:40 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Breakfast (Sunset)

Lessons in Civility - Lessons Learned Over a Lifetime in Law (Sunset)

Steven C. Laird, Law Offices of Laird & McCloskey

Inside Oral Arguments at SCOTUS (Sunset)

Matthew Wright, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Texas

Warren Jeffs FLDS (Sunset)

Eric Nichols, Butler Snow LLP

Prosecuting Dr. Death: The Real-Life Christopher Duntsch Story (Sunset)

Michelle Shughart, Assistant District Attorney, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Lunch (Sunset)

Judges’ Cup Tournament (Sunset)

Sponsorship Available!

Music BINGO (Hospitality Suite - King Ranch)

Dinner and Awards (Sunset)

Hospitality Suite Open, Sponsorship Available!

GENERAL CLE SESSION SPONSORED BY WHITAKER CHALK SWINDLE & SCHWARTZ PLLC

The Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) is a service of the Tarrant County Bar Association that benefits both TCBA member attorneys and the public. Panels by Numbers*

TCBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service is completely customizable for participating attorneys with:

LRIS averages more than more than 29 330 600

The program is intended to help individuals who are able to pay normal attorney fees but have difficulty finding legal representation due to lack of experience with the legal system, lack of information about needed services, or fear of costs. Membership costs range $150 - $200 annually. practice areas specialized practice areas from which to choose

Approved by the American Bar Association, LRIS allows member attorneys to receive client referrals and build their business, while helping callers quickly find an attorney in the area of law they need.

For more information about LRIS membership, please visit www.tarrantbar.org/JoinLRIS or contact lris@tarrantbar.org.

*Time Frame: January 2023-March 2024 Time Frame: January 2023-March 2024 & calls each month

Register at www.tarrantbar.org/Law-Day-2024

Sponsorship Information

Gold Sponsor $3,000

Includes 2 reserved tables (16 seats) for the event and a 1/2 page color ad in the Bar Bulletin. Gold sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Silver Sponsor $2,000

Includes a reserved table (8 seats) for the event. Silver sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Bronze Sponsor $500

Includes 2 seats for the event. Bronze sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Contributions or gifts to the TCBA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal tax income purposes. For questions, please contact Kayla Dailey at kayla@tarrantbar.org.

LegalLine

2024 Pro Bono Award Spotlight ANGELIA MEGAHAN LEGALLINE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Angelia’s journey into the legal profession wasn’t rooted in childhood aspirations, but rather fueled by a transformative family experience. Motivated by a desire to understand and leverage the law for the betterment of others, Angelia’s commitment to justice has defined her legal career.

Commencing her professional journey as a prosecutor in Tarrant County, Angelia’s dedication to the law and its impact on individuals became evident. Transitioning into civil litigation, she spent a decade immersed in in-house defense work, successfully handling a multitude of complex legal matters. Combining her criminal and civil experience, Angelia has taken over 100 cases to trial by jury. Angelia’s enthusiasm for trial work is palpable, reflecting her genuine love for the courtroom and devotion to her clients.

Since 2012, Angelia has navigated private practice with a profound sense of privilege, taking on cases and causes close to her heart and vital to the community she serves. Her enduring passion for the law and unwavering commitment to justice continue to shape her legal legacy. g

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

Could you spare approximately 2 hours on a Thursday night to volunteer your legal expertise and provide assistance to those in need of legal advice?

Upcoming Volunteer Dates

Thursday, April 25, 5 PM - 7PM

Thursday, May 9, 5 PM - 7PM

LegalLine needs attorneys in all areas of law. Thank you to all the attorneys who have volunteered in the last two months. If you want to know more about volunteering, email sarah@tarrantbar.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR RECENT LEGALLINE VOLUNTEERS

Amy Allen

Brittany Allen-Brantley

Robert Blankenship

Ola Campbell

Julie Camacho

Jackson Field

Ndidi Gbulie

Dustin G. Hoffman

Merrit Klapperich

Patrick McCarthy

Karon Rowden

WOMEN IN THE LAW SPONSORS

Premier Sponsor

Event Sponsor

Consilio

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

TCBA Women Attorneys Section

Table Sponsor

Armanino LLP

Cantey Hanger LLP

Duane Morris LLP

Pham Harrison, LLP

Gift Sponsor

Nikki Chriesman-Green

Kathy Ehmann-Clardy

Veronica Law

Leathers & Associates

Veritext

Keynote Speaker

Carter Casteel

Casteel & Casteel

P.L.L.C.

Women in the Law Committee members that made this event possible:

Andrea Palmer, Co-Chair

Shelby White, Co-Chair

Heidi Angel

Chelsea Casiano

Nikki Chriesman-Green

Bobbie Edmonds

Caroline Harrison

Ann Lopez

Kara McHorse

Angela Miller-Leathers

Roundtable speakers for their time, expertise, and insightful contributions:

N. Sue Allen, Allen Law Firm

Kassi Burns, King & Spalding LLP

Kate Casey, JD, LPC, Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness

Chelsea Casiano, Forney Corporation

Clarissa Hodges, Second Court of Appeals

Punam Kaji, Fidelity Investments

Adriana Sarith Berry, PepsiCo

Karen Washington, Dispute Resolution Professional

Lisa West, Second Court of Appeals

TEXAS LAWYERS FOR TEXAS VETERANS TARRANT COUNTY CHAPTER

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

2024 Pro Bono Award Spotlight JOHN CORBIN STEADFAST SERVICE AWARD

Anative of Fort Worth, Texas, John has been a general practitioner of civil law here since January 2003. He earned a JD degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M) and his Texas law license in 2002. He’s a long-standing member of the Tarrant County Bar Association, a Bar Foundation Fellow, and actively contributes through pro bono work with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and the Tarrant County Chapter of Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans. Additionally, he volunteers for the Tarrant Volunteer Attorney Services and serves on committees within the bar association. He holds Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in journalism, and a master of public administration degree, all from the University of Oklahoma. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in political economy from the University of Texas at Dallas. g

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

TLooking for ways you can support TLTV but unable to volunteer?

CONSIDER SPONSORING A CLINIC!

Contact sarah@tarrantbar.org for more details.

If you are passionate about providing legal assistance to veterans in need and have creative solutions and ideas to share, consider joining the TLTV committee, which meets the third Wednesday of each month from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Contact sarah@tarrantbar.org for more details.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSISTED WITH THE FEBRUARY AND MARCH CLINICS

Rachel Barr

Kirsten Clark

Scott Conyers

John Corbin

Deborah Krane

George Muckleroy

David Pritchard

Karon Rowden

Amber Tilly

George White

TCBA Extended Membership Promotion Began April 1!

here’s no better time to get involved with the TCBA! The annual TCBA Bench Bar Conference is local this year and will be April 12-14 at the Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa – sign up now for this member-favorite event!

April 1 marked the beginning of our extended membership promotion for those who are not current TCBA members. Please encourage your colleagues who are not currently TCBA members to consider joining and taking advantage of this promotion to have access to all TCBA member benefits and

events from now until June 2025! If you are a current TCBA member, you can also spring into membership savings and increase your client list by taking advantage of our Lawyer Referral and Information Service extended membership promotion which also began on April 1. If you would like more information about the LRIS program, contact our LRIS Director at carolina@tarrantbar.org.

As always, we appreciate your continued support of the TCBA and hope to see you at the next TCBA event! g

Stewart William DeVore Jr.

1945-2024

Stewart William DeVore, Jr., born March 25, 1945 in Independence, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends, on February 2, 2024. Stewart had bravely and gracefully battled Parkinson’s and PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) for the last 10 years. He amazingly maintained his sweet and loving spirit through all of it.

Stewart was born to Charlotte Dunn DeVore and Stewart William DeVore while his father served during World War II in the South Pacific. After the war, his family settled in Arlington, Texas. Stewart graduated from Arlington High School in 1963 and attended Arlington State College (now UTA) for his freshman year. During that time, he pledged Alpha Sigma Chi Fraternity. For his sophomore year, he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he pledged Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

At a party in San Antonio, fate brought him on a blind date with the woman who would become the love of his life, Marilynn Maddox. He was captivated with her from the very beginning and they would marry on June 1, 1968.

Stewart graduated from UT Law School in May 1969. He learned he passed the bar and received his license to practice law on the same day he left for basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While in the National Guard, he was awarded the “American Spirit Award,” at the completion of basic training, which was given to only one soldier per battalion. He was honored to give the commencement address for his battalion.

He and Marilynn returned to Arlington where he joined the law firm of DeVore, Bagby, McGahey, Ross and Burnett. He eventually went on to form his own law firm, specializing in commercial real estate law, opened a branch of Alamo Title Company, and chartered and co-founded Centre Savings Association. Prior to his declining health, he practiced law in Arlington for over 50 years.

The bonds he made with his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers at UT were so very important to him and created some of his strongest friendships that lasted the rest of his life. As an alumnus, he served as the Vice President of The Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation (aka “Tau Trustees”). It was his honor and privilege to be able to use his real estate law expertise to negotiate the purchase and handle the closing of the new fraternity house for Tau Chapter in January of 1997. He was named one of the Tau Trustees Men of the Year in 1996.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was active in serving his community. He was active with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington, The Oakridge School,

The Creative Arts Theater and School, and The Arthritis Foundation. He enjoyed bird hunting, skeet shooting, and deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico off Port Aransas, Texas. His love of music, especially rhythm and blues, never changed. His favorites, Bobby “Blue” Bland and Fats Domino were on repeat during his final days.

But what he loved and enjoyed most was spending time with “his girls.” In 1977, their daughter Leslie Arden was born. She was truly the light of his life. He spent countless hours at her dance recitals and never hesitated to take her and her friends anywhere they wanted to go. His big orange van was well-known and made so many fun trips all over the place – concerts, cheerleading camps, the hunting lease, trips to the beach in Port Aransas. He was so proud when she made the best decision to also attend the University of Texas at Austin and continue his proud Longhorn tradition! Arden met her future husband, Scott Ellis, there and they were married in 2000. Later when his grandsons Huston (2006) and Ford (2009) were born, he was elated. Having grown up with two sisters and having one daughter, he was so excited to have BOYS! He loved nothing more than being with them, flying model airplanes, shooting BB guns, racing remote control cars, playing catch, flying kites on the beach, basically anything and everything that made them happy.

He will be remembered by those that loved and knew him as a kind and caring gentleman. He was intelligent with such a gentle spirit and beautiful heart. He loved writing poems and puns, many of which induced all kinds of eyerolls from Arden, but they were always hilarious. Stewart was the life of every party and was always ready for a good time with friends and family. He had the best laugh and the best smile and lived to make everyone else do the same. These same qualities live on so beautifully in Arden, Huston and Ford.

The last few years were spent at home with his devoted wife and best friend, Marilynn, always at his side. She cared for him day in and day out making sure he had everything he needed and was always perfectly cared for. Marilynn’s commitment to her husband was nothing short of amazing and was a beautiful picture of the love they shared for 58 years.

Stewart was preceded in death by his parents, Charlotte and Stewart DeVore, sister, Kathleen Boone, his uncle, Dale DeVore, his cousin, Tom DeVore and his niece, Kara Boone. He is survived by his wife, Marilynn of 55 years; daughter and son-in-law Arden and Scott Ellis in Dallas; and grandsons Huston and Ford Ellis. He is also survived by his sister Susan Stout in Colorado and niece Dr. Kim Boone in Kentucky, as well as many favorite cousins in Kansas and Texas. g Published

Rita Rodriguez Utt 1944-2024

Rita Rodriguez Utt passed away on February 25, 2024.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Utt, her daughter, Jessica Reyes, her granddaughter, Alexandria Reyes, greatgrandson, Michael Menchaca and siblings, Robert Rosas, Reinaldo Rosas, Mary Helen Gonzales and Daniel Rosas.

Rita was born January 20, 1944 as the oldest sibling of Robert, Renny, Mary Helen and Daniel, and was raised in a traditional Latino "barrio", in Worth Heights in South Fort Worth. The neighborhood's social life revolved around the small Catholic Church and extended family made up a good part of the neighborhood.

She was a trailblazer for her siblings in the public school experience. Her first educational hurdle was to learn English as rapidly as possible since Spanish was not allowed in the school. The importance of education was instilled in them by their mother, Antonia Rosas, whose goal it was to see all her children graduate from high school. Rita was the first to graduate in 1962 from Trimble Tech and completed a oneyear vocational nursing course at a local hospital that gave her steady employment and allowed her to support herself through college.

She met her husband to be at a Valentine's dance at Carswell Airforce Base in 1965 and celebrated their 60th Valentine's Day together before her passing. Rita and Mike were married in November 1965 after his return from Guam with the Air Force. They lived in Fort Worth for a while and then moved to Austin in 1968, where they attended the University of Texas. This was the first time she lived outside of the DFW area and with a huge student population of over 50,000 people, it was overwhelming. There was a wealth of academic choices, many distinguished professors, a diverse population and many campus activities. Living in Student Housing, they met students from many parts of the US and the world. The experience gave her an appreciation of academics and other cultures.

Her daughter, Jessica, was born in 1970 and she spent her first year of life attending college classes with Mike and Rita. After Mike's graduation, they returned to Fort Worth with their baby. Rita finished nursing school at University of TexasArlington and was one of the first graduating classes from the nursing program in 1974. She worked at the Health Department and had the opportunity to work with the Latino community. They taught her more about her own culture and language than she had ever learned in school. Most of all, they taught her the meaning of patience, perseverance, humility, and faith. These are common traits of her community that she believed helped her in her own struggles. She and Mike got involved

in local politics and community activities where they found many new lifelong friends.

In 1979 Rita, Mike, and Jessica moved to Houston for Mike's work in the hotel business where they knew very few people. It was almost like their experience at UT; a huge population, very diverse, and overwhelming. She worked in various nursing jobs but became dissatisfied with the profession and her restlessness led her to research other fields. She decided that the legal field would fit her needs and started her plan to change professions. Next came the applications to the three law schools in Houston and around the state. She had always maintained a high-grade point average and she was accepted at the three law schools in Houston. She decided on the Law School at the University of Houston, where 2,500 applicants competed for 400 spots. She had been out of school for over 10 years and was competing with bright young new college graduates. The only thing she had that they didn't was a wealth of life experience coupled with perseverance and enthusiasm. Law school was a family decision and it took the whole family to get her through the roughest three years of her life as well as the support from a group of law school friends. In 1986, Rita graduated and passed the bar.

After graduation, Rita and her small family returned to Fort Worth at Thanksgiving. With the help of an old friend, she was hired as the first Latina assistant DA by the Tarrant County District Attorney's office. Her brown face stood out and everyone at the courthouse knew about her in the first week. She expressed that she was again the "first" and was determined to do a good job. It was a time of rapid learning not only of the law and her job but also how to survive in a bureaucracy. Judge Pete Perez introduced her to the Mexican American Bar Association where she met about 20 other Latino attorneys who were practicing in Tarrant County. She continued to be involved with this group and made lifelong friends.

In December 1987 she encountered Enriqueta while Christmas shopping at Montgomery Ward. She had worked with Enriqueta 10 years before at the Health Department as a nurse. This was Rita's introduction to Hispanic Women's Network of Texas. They worked together to gather members which included attorneys, teachers, nurses, CPAs, businesswomen, homemakers, and students to grow the HWNT-Fort Worth Chapter. They had workshops on personal care, Robert's Rules, board training and her favorite, "Dona Doormat Does Not Live Here Anymore" - a day long workshop on assertiveness for Latinas. She was active in the local Fort Worth Chapter and up to the State level in various positions and continued to work with men and women to promote Latinas in civic, political, corporate, and financial arenas.

After working at the DA's office, she branched out to work for a small law firm and in 1992 ran for a Judgeship, but was defeated along with every other Democrat on the ballot. She continued to be involved in politics because she believed that the Latino community must have a voice in politics locally, statewide, and nationwide to participate in the decisions that affect us all.

In 1993 she started a private practice which included serving individuals, small businesses, and government entities. She continued her community work by using her legal knowledge to help prepare end of life documents, the translation of an elder handbook into Spanish, and assisting in a citizenship workshop with other local attorneys just to name a few. She was very involved with the community and sat on numerous boards and commissions. Her focus was on the needs of the Hispanic community using her education and language skills to help them or find someone to help them. She believed that

if you are lucky enough to succeed it is incumbent on you to help those that are not as fortunate.

Rita loved to travel and experiencing new things, people, and ideas. After 13 years in private practice, she traveled extensively with her husband and friends. She also loved her family by being a mother to Jessica, grandmother to Alexandria, and a great grandmother to Michael, her chulo. Her days after retirement were filled with love and adventure until her health slowed her down in the last couple of years of her life. Even with her health slowing her down, she never stopped her community work. Her latest project was to record the oral history of Hispanics in the Fort Worth area with an organization she helped to found called HOLA. She asked that donations be made to HOLA in lieu of flowers to continue her work. g

Member Benefits Vendor List

TCBA members may take advantage of discounts provided by the following vendors:

AMO Office Supply guarantees the lowest prices on office supplies for TCBA members, with next-day delivery and free shipping. Call 800.420.6421.

Falcon Document Solutions provides quick, efficient, and reliable process services, document scanning, printing, copying, electronic discovery, litigation displays, and trial boards. They are available 24/7 at 817.870.0330 or visit their website at www.falcondocs.com. TCBA members can enjoy discounts on their services.

Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc. offers a 10% discount for TCBA members on printed materials — business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. To receive a quote, call 817.577.0572.

Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 15% off new Westlaw subscriptions or upgrades to current subscriptions*, including our latest AI enhanced platform, Westlaw Edge. Please contact your local Account Executive, Ben Galloway, for more information: Ben.Galloway@TR.com. *Restrictions apply, please contact your AE for details.

For IT Help:

Juris Fabrilis provides members with discounted rates on web-based tools to assist in managing their law practices. For more information, call 817.481.1573 ext. 101.

For Shredding and Document Disposal:

Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that offers TCBA members a 10% discount to TCBA members. They provide on-site document shredding services. TCBA also organizes 4 free shredding events per year exclusively for its members. Members can bring up to five boxes for shredding free of charge. Call 940.783.6580 for details. g

Autumn

John

Kelly

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit the corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, or email tcba@tarrantbar.org

Please note that additional requirements apply to the following practice areas.