Renew Your TCBA Membership for 2023-2024!

The new bar year starts July 1 and the TCBA is excited to continue offering you the best member benefits and resources for your membership investment. This year, the TCBA was happy to host a myriad of networking events and section meetings and offered over 75 hours of CLE credit. We encourage you to continue taking advantage of TCBA member benefits by renewing your membership for the 2023-2024 TCBA Bar Year and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events or programs in the new bar year. Membership renewal information was emailed to all members on June 1 and additional reminders will continue to be sent out. As you may notice, the TCBA online renewal process looks a little different this year and has been updated so that renewing your membership online is easier than ever. For any questions about the renewal process or how to opt-in to automatically renew your membership subscriptions going forward, please contact me at laurensc@tarrantbar.org. Avoid losing your member benefits by renewing early via your MyTCBA portal or by following the instructions in your renewal email.

As always, thank you for your continued support of the TCBA! g

Any room can be rented for an hourly rate of $35 regardless of membership status. Rates are for 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. rentals. Outside of normal rental hours incur an additional fee of $25 per hour per staff member and must be preapproved. Last-minute time extensions are not allowed. Social, Charitable, and Judicial/Political receptions are $500 from 4-9 p.m. After 9 p.m. an additional fee of $100 per hour per staff member will be charged. Last-minute time extensions are not allowed.

For room rental reservations, contact Tracy Card at tracy@tarrantbar.org.

Law Day, May 1 annually, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share. In Tarrant County, the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association have traditionally celebrated this day by honoring and recognizing outstanding members for their service to our legal community and the community at large.

The Blackstone Award has been given annually since 1963 and recognizes a legal career that exemplifies professional aptitude, integrity and courage. Neal W. Adams’s career has surpassed these qualities, showcasing unparalleled dedication and excellence.

The Silver Gavel Award recognizes a distinguished member of the judiciary who has made a significant and remarkable contribution to the legal profession. This year’s recipient is Judge Jerome S. Hennigan

The Professionalism Award is bestowed upon a member of the legal profession who has demonstrated exemplary professional conduct throughout their career. This year’s recipient is Karmen Johnson.

The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, presented by TCYLA, recognizes a talented and dedicated young lawyer who has shown exceptional skill, outstanding service to the legal profession, and a strong commitment to serving the community. This year’s recipient is Brian Singleterry.

The Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes an attorney or judge who has demonstrated a commitment to mentoring young lawyers in the legal community. This year’s recipient is Judge Mark T. Pittman.

The Liberty Bell Award honors an exceptional nonlawyer who has selflessly contributed to the community, strengthening the effectiveness of the American system of justice and fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the law. This year’s recipient is Denee Borchardt

Award recipients were honored at the 2023 Law Day Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Hilton Fort Worth.

Blackstone award

NEAL W. ADAMS

Neal Adams was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. He earned his BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University in 1968 and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1970 from Baylor University School of Law. While attending Texas A&M University, he was Head Yell Leader from 19671968. He served on the Student Senate and was Adjutant General for 2nd Brigade Staff of the Corps of Cadets.

After obtaining his Juris Doctor in 1970 from Baylor University, Neal served in the United States Army as a 1st Lieutenant, Adjutant’s General Corps, and was trial counsel for Headquarters Command, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, earning the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and was honorably discharged in 1972.

Neal resides in Bryan, Texas and has been practicing law in Tarrant County since 1972. He is President of the law firm of Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C., located in Grapevine, Texas. He is a past member and Past President of the Board of Trustees, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. He is also a past member and Past President of the HurstEuless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors and Past President of the Mid-Cities Rotary Club.

Neal continues to be very supportive of Texas A&M University. He serves as a member and Past Chairman of President Banks’ Board of Visitors for the Corps of Cadets, a member of and Past Chair of the Chancellor’s Century Council, Past Chair of the 12th Man Foundation, a Past President and current Treasurer of the Former Yell Leaders’ Association. He continues to serve as a member of and Vice Chair of the Dean’s Development Council, Texas A&M University School of Law. Neal serves as a member of the Advisory Board and as Chair of the Development Committee for the Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Baylor Oral Health Foundation Board of Trustees which supports the Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. Since the inception of the Texas A&M University School of Law Neal services as a member and as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Law School.

In 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed Neal as a member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board where he served for six years, and in July 2005 Governor Perry appointed him Vice Chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He is a member (2009-to date) and the current Chair of the Board of the Texas Higher Education Foundation (2011to date).

Neal is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Aggie Lawyer Award from the Texas Aggie Bar Association. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award from the Texas Bar Foundation for professionalism. In 2016, he was presented the 2016 Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award by the State Bar of Texas School Law Section. In 2015, Neal was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Hurst-EulessBedford Independent School District as a former member and President of the Board of Trustees. In February 2008, Neal was named by the Association of Former Students as a Distinguished Alumni of Texas A&M University and in 2010 he was inducted into the Hall of Honor, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. From 2003 through 2011 and 2013 through 2023, he was named one of the Texas Super Lawyers in school and education law by Texas Monthly Magazine. In October 2002 and 2007, Texas Lawyer Magazine named him as the “Go-To-Lawyer” for school law in the State of Texas.

He has been a continual supporter of the Texas A&M University School of Law from its inception, which is located in downtown Fort Worth, and served on the Law School’s Search Committee for its first Dean in 2013 and on its Law School’s Search Committee for its second Dean in 2017.

Member of the Tarrant County Bar Association (1972 to date), Member and Chair (2002), District 7A Grievance Committee, State Bar of Texas (2000-2002); Member and Chair (2017-2018), Board of Directors, Tarrant County Bar Foundation (2013-2019); Co-Chair and Member of the Executive Planning Committee of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation (2019) coordinating and promoting the First Annual “Justice for All” Gala in November 2019; Member, Board of Directors, Texas Bar Foundation (2009-2012), Fellows Chair (20112012); Member, Tarrant County New Civil Courts Building Design Tax Force (2008-2012); Chairman and Member of the District 7, Texas Bar Foundation, Fellows Nominating Committee (2008); Member, Board of Directors, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas (2000-2003); Member and Chair (1999-2000), State Bar of Texas, School Law Section (1987 to date); Co-Editor, State Bar of Texas, School Law Section Newsletter (1997-1999); Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (1986 to date); Charter Member, Tarrant County Bar Foundation (1986 to date}; Member, Texas Bar College (1986 to date).

silver Gavel award

JUDGE JEROME S. HENNIGAN

The Honorable Jerome S. Hennigan graduated from Texas Tech University and from the Texas Tech University School of Law and began his legal career in Tarrant County. He was in private practice in Fort Worth and in Arlington. During that time, he was a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, the Arlington Bar Association, and served on the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee. Additionally, he served on the Board of Regents of The Oakridge School.

In the 1970’s Judge Hennigan served as Municipal Judge for the City of Fort Worth and, thereafter, as a judge pro tem. In 2002, he was appointed as the Associate Judge of the 324th District Court and, in 2006, was appointed and then elected as the District Judge of the 324th District Court. He served as the elected judge until his retirement in December, 2022. During his tenure on the bench, he also served as Chairman of the Tarrant County Juvenile Board and as the Local Administrative Judge.

Judge Hennigan has been married to his wife, Kim, for 43 years. He has two children, Stacey and Scott, as well as five grandchildren.

Professionalism award

Karmen Johnson, a native of Ohio, received her Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, and her Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. She interned at Central Carolina Legal Services and West Texas Legal Services. Johnson was admitted to the practice of Law in Texas in 1987, and to the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas in 1988.

Johnson is a member of the Texas Bar, Tarrant County Bar Association, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers Association of Tarrant County (where she has held several elected offices including the office of President and currently serves as Treasurer), and the L. Clifford Davis Legal Association (former Board of Director). Johnson is a former member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Forum Fort Worth, and the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Johnson was a substitute Judge for the City of Fort Worth, served as a substitute Title IV D Court Master, Probate Court Master, and Associate Judge of the 231st District Court.

Johnson is or has been active in the past in a number of civic and charitable organizations and associations including, subscribing life member of the NAACP, Business Volunteer for the Arts, Board of Directors of Eastside YMCA (Fort Worth, Texas), past Board Member of the Ethics Committee of The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Association, The Sojourner Truth Players, Executive Committee of Harris Methodist Health Exchange, the African American Summit for Peace, Justice, and Equality, the Task Force on Family Violence, the Vision Coalition, the Community Health Foundation, the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County, Board of Directors of Tarrant County Chapter NAACP and the State Bar of Texas Child Abuse and Neglect Committee.

Johnson maintains a general practice as a solo practitioner who handles cases in state district courts, county courts, probate courts, with a focus on family law, child welfare law, and juvenile law. Additionally, Johnson has taught the Laws and Standards class in the Mental Health Department, and the Family Law class in the Legal Assistants Department at Tarrant County Junior College (now known as Tarrant County College) and lectures on various family law topics.

Johnson is married to Richard J. Harleaux, Jr., CPA, who is employed as a Financial Reporting Manager for D.R. Horton in Arlington, Texas and has a 4-legged child named Bella.

outstandinG YounG lawYer award

Brian Singleterry

Brian Singleterry is a litigation associate in the Fort Worth office of Haynes Boone LLP, an American Lawyer top 100 law firm with 19 offices around the world. He represents businesses in recovering insurance policies, bankruptcy litigation, and many other types of disputes. His cases are in both state and federal courts, in Texas and across the country.

A first-generation college graduate, Brian was raised in Marlow, Oklahoma and earned a degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he met his wife—and Fort Worth native —Amy. After getting engaged, they moved to Fort Worth so Brian could attend Texas A&M University School of Law on a full scholarship.

In law school, Brian discovered his passion for the law. He graduated summa cum laude, ranked first in his class. During law school, he earned a certification in business law, took advanced-writing classes, and participated trial-advocacy courses. He was also an editor on the Texas A&M Law Review, where he was voted board member of the year.

Brian’s career has provided broad experience under many great mentors. During and immediately after law school, Brian worked for Robert Aldrich, representing plaintiffs in personal-injury and business disputes. Next Brian served Tarrant County as an assistant district attorney. This role provided lots of courtroom experience, allowing Brian to try 17 cases to a jury and draft six appellate briefs. Cantey Hanger then hired him, exposing him to many great mentors. There, he represented individuals in family-law cases, doctors and hospitals in medical-malpractice cases, and businesses and individuals in a variety of disputes.

After Judge Mark Pittman was appointed to the bench, Brian was fortunate to serve as a law clerk to both him and

Judge Terry Means. In this role, Brian researched and learned about criminal, civil-rights, procedural, and business issues. But more importantly, Judge Pittman and Judge Means mentored Brian, teaching him many lessons in both the law and life.

Since law school, Brian has been involved with the Tarrant County Bar. As a law student, Brian was the student liaison for the Tarrant County Bar Association and a pupil in the Mahon Inn of Court. In the Tarrant County Bar Association, Brian has served as the Chair of the Membership Committee, the People’s Law School Committee, and the Business Law Section. Brian also served on the Board of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, acting as President in 20212022. And he currently is a Barrister in the Mahon Inn of Court. In these roles, Brian has organized many projects, CLEs, networking events—moderating multiple CLEs.

When not busy at work or with the bar, Brian spends as much time as he can with his wife, Amy, and two daughters, Marin and Rose.

Mark T. Pittman was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, on August 8, 2019.

Immediately preceding his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Pittman was an Associate Justice on the Court of Appeals for the Second District of Texas, a position Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to in January 2017. Prior to serving on the Second Court of Appeals, Judge Pittman served on the trial bench of the 352nd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County, an appointment he received from Governor Rick Perry in January 2015.

In addition to his service in the judiciary, Judge Pittman is also an experienced litigator, having served as an Enforcement Attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Fort Worth, a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Texas prosecuting economic crimes, a Senior Attorney for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Dallas, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth, and a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division,

Commercial Litigation Branch in Washington, D.C.

Before entering government service Judge Pittman was a civil litigation attorney with Kelly Hart and Hallman, and a law clerk to the Honorable Eldon B. Mahon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division.

Judge Pittman received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 1996, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law in 1999.

liBertY Bell award

Denee Borchardt

Denee Borchardt is the Program Director of CASA of Tarrant County. Denee joined CASA in 2016, after spending 13 years with Child Protective Services investigating and supervising child abuse and neglect cases. As Program Director, Denee works closely with many different local stakeholders including, OCOK, DFPS, and the judicial system. She works hard to ensure families and children receive the most appropriate support during the most difficult time in their lives. g

Thank You To Our Law Day Sponsors

Gold Sponsor

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.

Black Women Lawyers

Association - Tarrant County & Judge Maryellen Hicks

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Phil Sorrells, Criminal District Attorney’s Office

Silver Sponsor

Haynes and Boone, LLP

McDonald Sanders, P.C.

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association

Bronze Sponsor

Gardner, Smith & Vaughan, PLLC Judge Pat Gallagher

Texas A&M School of Law

Varghese Summersett PLLC

Join Chief Justice Bonnie Sudderth and Justices Wade Birdwell and Dabney Bassel for a moderated panel discussion on the foundational principle of civility in the courts and in the legal profession. The justices will offer views from the bench and observations on civility in general practice and appellate settings, focusing on the key attributes of civil conduct, humility, respect for opposing views and values, management of negative responses and emotions, and adherence to the Disciplinary Rules and the Texas Lawyer’s Creed.