Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin (September/October 2024) by Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

SCOTT LINDSEY 2024-2025 TCBA President

Fall is my favorite season. I love watching my daughter play volleyball and cheer on Friday nights, streaming my son’s football games on Saturday, and watching just about any college football game on TV. The weather begins to cool, and the coffee shops sell their pumpkin spice drinks. For me, Fall is a time of reflection and gathering with friends and family.

Fall is also a busy time for the TCBA. In October, look for “Masters of the Bench and Bar: Conversations with Tarrant County Legal Greats.” That event will be October 11 from 12-5 p.m. at the TCBA offices for only $25 for members. Do not miss this chance to learn from and laugh with some of the best lawyers Tarrant County has known. The following week, please attend the October membership luncheon where we will honor Hon. L Clifford Davis and Kleber Miller as the first Tarrant County Legal Legends, a status they unquestionably deserve but that very few will ever achieve. Judge Davis and Mr. Miller deserve all the praise we can give them.

GET INVOLVED.

I encourage you to not only attend TCBA events but to get involved. My themes for this TCBA year include prioritizing personal interactions, humanizing others, and forging positive relationships with our peers. Getting involved is one of the best ways to accomplish these things for yourself. There are countless ways to serve, but here are two recommendations for elevating yourself and others.

Join a Committee. The TCBA is a large organization, so it can be intimidating to volunteer. But like “small groups” in a big church, committees are a great way to meet new people and serve your community. With so many committees to choose from, there is sure to be one that is a good fit for you. To learn more about our committees and what might fit you, please contact me or TCBA Executive Director, Kayla Dailey.

But don’t just join to add the committee to your resume. Attend the meetings (many of which are now virtual) and volunteer to help. The more involved you are, the more people you will meet, the more relationships you will develop, and the more you will benefit. We often hear that new members are intimidated to attend TCBA events alone, but if you have served on committees and gotten involved, you will have a network of others to connect with at those events.

Attend Events and Interact. Maybe you already attend a lot of TCBA events. If so, please continue. But do you make a point to speak with others you do not know or who may look lost in a room of strangers? You never know who could benefit from a kind word or an offer to make introductions to others. Or maybe you are one who doesn’t like a large crowd. If so, let us know before an event, and we’ll be sure to have a board member or other volunteer there to greet you and help you feel welcome and appreciated. We all have opportunities to improve ourselves and others.

Brag on Your Mentor. Next, help us elevate the mentors among us. I have been blessed with many mentors, and I try to take something from each of them. Jim Watson taught me attention to detail and the importance of accurate and timely reporting to clients. David Luningham showed me the life of a lawsuit from filing through trial. E.L. Caraway taught me to decide who I am as a lawyer and to be myself rather than copying the styles of others. Terry Gardner taught me to truly get to know my clients, not only because their case is important to them, but because truly connecting with my clients helps me humanize them to the jury and reviewing courts. I could go on, as many others have touched my career and taught me along the way, and I always enjoy talking about my mentors.

You too can brag about your mentors. This year, we are asking our members for short submissions about their mentors. Please take a few moments and write one or two paragraphs about your mentor. Tell us who they were and some of what you learned from them. To move our profession and our bar association forward in the most positive way, we should honor and learn from those who paved the way and made our today possible. Remembering our mentors is a strong step in that direction.

STAY CONNECTED.

Finally, you can’t take advantage of all these member benefits if your TCBA membership expires. Double-check that you have paid your dues, and if not, be sure to renew this month so you don’t miss any events.

As we move into Fall and begin to reflect on 2024, let’s get involved and be thankful for those who led us from the past to the present and for the opportunities we each have to benefit from the TCBA. g

YLA SNAPSHOT

OLA CAMPBELL

2024–2025 TCYLA President

As we embark on the new bar year, I am honored to serve as your new TCYLA President, together with our PresidentElect, John Easter, and our Secretary-Treasurer, Paul Farmer. I want to extend a warm welcome to our returning Board of Directors members, whose commitment and experience continue to drive our mission forward: Dominic Alves, Scott Edmonds, Erika Flores, Stefan Garcia, Emily Ledford, Kelsey Linendoll, Marissa Matthews, Marylynn Smitherman, Sara Vargas, and Riley Waters. We are also excited to introduce our two new board members: Michael Gaylen and Desireé Malone, who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our organization.

This year, we have an exciting lineup of programming designed to foster connection, professional development, and community engagement. Our Fall Fete in September was a resounding success, bringing together members, mentors, and judges for an evening of networking and camaraderie. Building on that momentum, we are preparing for Chili Wars and a softball tournament championship, uniting the young lawyers from Tarrant, Dallas, Johnson, and Denton counties. We hope that these events will be a fun way to build relationships among our peers in the DFW area. We are also planning our regular events–Spring Fiesta and Pickleball tournament.

We will also continue to provide continuing legal education programming and expand our mental health initiative, which has quickly become one of our most popular offerings. We invite our members to join us for our monthly happy hours on the third Thursday of each month—an excellent opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow young lawyers in a relaxed setting.

I encourage each of you to get involved, share your ideas, and take advantage of the opportunities TCYLA has to offer. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Together, we can build a vibrant community that not only supports each other professionally but also fosters lasting friendships. g

Members

of the 2024-2025

100 Club

*List Reflected Below is as of September 15, 2024

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C

Albert, Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP

Anderson & Cummings, LLP

Anderson & Riddle, LLP

Baker Monroe, PLLC

Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP

Blaies & Hightower, L.L.P.

Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.

City Attorney’s Office-City of Fort Worth

Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P.

Decker Jones, P.C.

Dismuke & Waters, P.C.

Forshey & Prostok, L.L.P.

Freeman Mills P.C.

Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C.

Gardner, Smith & Vaughan, PLLC

Griffith, Jay, & Michel, LLP

Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.

Harrison Steck, P.C.

Haynes and Boone, LLP

Holland Johns & Penny LLP

Jackson Walker LLP

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Killen & Dennis, PC

KoonsFuller, P.C.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Lively & Associates, PLLC

McDonald Sanders, P.C

Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC

Nelson Bumgardner Conroy PC

Noteboom - The Law Firm

Padfield & Stout, LLP

Pham Harrison, LLP

Phelps Dunbar LLP

Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, L.L.P.

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

Underwood Law Firm, PLLC

Varghese Summersett PLLC

Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

Whitley Penn, LLP

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 2024–2025 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 Kristin Anglin at kristin@tarrantbar.org. g

Neal Adams

Ed Bell

John Allen Chalk Albon Head

Hon. Maryellen Hicks Frank Jelinek David Keltner Kleber Miller

Hon. Terry Means Sharon Millians Gary Nickelson Santiago Salinas

Marshall Searcy Joe Shannon

Hon. Louis Sturns Hon. RH Wallace

The TCBA Board of Directors updated the strategic plan in 2023 with a focus on 4 pillars:

• Membership

• Professionalism

• Communication • Sustainability

The TCBA staff and Board of Directors review the events and initiatives for the year and match them with the pillar of the strategic plan it supports. Check out the next page to see what the TCBA has going on this year and how the strategic plan benefits YOU.

‣ Discounts to businesses

‣ Quarterly Magic Shred

‣ Bench Bar Conference

‣ Costa Rica CLE

‣ Wellness Events

‣ Community Service Projects

‣ Court Staff Appreciation

‣ 18 Substantive Law Sections

‣ Diversity Events

‣ Holiday Parties: Boo at the Bar

December Holidays Mardi Law

E D U C AT I O N A L

E V E N TS

‣ Seminars:

Child Welfare

Juvenile Law

Appointment Wheels

ADR

Brown Bag Seminars

‣ Mentor Mondays

‣ Membership Luncheons

E N G A G E P OT E N T I A L M E M B E R S

‣ Swearing-In Ceremonies

‣ Partnership with Mahon Inn of Court

‣ Partnership with TCYLA

‣ 1L Welcome Lunch

‣ Hosting Events with:

Black Women Lawyers Association

Family Law Bar Association

L. Clifford Davis Legal Association

Probate Bar Association

Tarrant County Criminal Defense

Lawyers Association

E L E VAT E

S TA N D A R D S O F

P R O F E S S I O N A L C O N D U CT

‣ Women in the Law Luncheon

‣ 50 Year Lawyer Celebration

‣ Mentorship Program

‣ Law Day Awards

‣ Judicial Portraits and Investiture Assistance

S U P P O RT P R O B O N O

‣ Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services

‣ Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

‣ National Adoption Day

‣ People’s Law School

‣ LegalLine

‣ Statewide Award-Winning Bar Bulletin

‣ Weekly event emails

‣ Broadcast Email Policy for Affiliate’s Events

‣ Publication Opportunities: Big Wins

Retirement Recognition

Substantive Articles

Mentor Highlight

‣ Social Media Posts: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook

‣ LegalLine

‣ Fee Arbitration

‣ Elder Law Handbook

‣ Lawyer Referral Service

‣ People’s Law School

‣ Judicial Evaluation & Polls

‣ Voluntarily undergo yearly audit

‣ CLA BizOps team assistance

‣ Section Chair Orientation &

Administrative Support

‣ Quarterly meetings with the TCBF & TCBA Execs

‣ Committee Orientation and support

‣ Regular meetings with TCBA Exec

SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND LEADERSHIP

‣ Annual assessment of employee benefits and compensation

‣ Past Presidents Luncheon

‣ Board orientation and board retreat

‣ Staff growth encouraged through professional development

‣ Staff liaison for every committee

TEXAS LAWYERS FOR TEXAS VETERANS

TARRANT COUNTY CHAPTER

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

2024 Pro Bono Award Spotlight

The Generals Ward and Chennault Post of the American Legion, DBA: China Post #1, the Soldier of Fortune Post, is incorporated in the State of Texas as an IRS code 501(c)(19) tax-exempt corporation. It was formed in Shanghai, China, in 1919 and went into exile in 1938 when Japanese forces overran Shanghai preceding the official entry of the United States into WWI I. At that time, the Commander was General Clair Chennault ( of Flying Tiger fame). The Post reopened in 1945 in Shanghai after the defeat of Japan but was forced into exile again when Communist forces took control of Shanghai in 1948, confiscating the Post Home, 'The American Club," and jailing its members. Presently attached to the Department of France, China Post #1 has no permanent home.

The unique quality of the Post is reflected in the character of its membership. Membership is by invitation only. In addition to the Legion qualifications, China Post #1 members are usually further distinguished by the character of their service. Members generally have had a sign-

OUR SECTIONS

The cooler days seem to be just around the corner, and football is ramping up along with other fall activities. The sections are working hard to line up some wonderful topics to help everyone stay up to date on the latest news and procedures within their area of practice. What a

ificant career in active service, a meritorious period of duty or acts while in service, or they have civilian careers or professions after honorable service working in or in support of international operations. The Post has included 16 Medal of Honor awardees. Throughout its history, all its members have given their time and blood in military or community service and, though now scattered worldwide, continue that tradition in the cities where the members live. g

Brittany Allen-Brantley

Francine Bennett

Robert Blankenship

Scott Conyers

John Corbin

George Muckleroy

Brenda Pfieff

David Pritchard

Aaron Sigal

Consider Joining the TLTV Committee!

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. g

By Tracy Card, Office Manager TCBA Sections Liaison

great time of year to get out and start taking advantage of these CLE courses! Be sure to check your section calendars or the TCBA calendar for more details. We look forward to seeing you there! g

Snippets

Civil and Criminal

Co-Editor Judge Carey Walker, County Criminal Court No. 2

by Judge Bob McCoy g County Criminal Court No. 3

ASK JUDGE BOB

Judge Bob, what is a “public purpose” referenced in article III, Section 52-a of the Texas Constitution?

The objective of a “public purpose” is the promotion of the general prosperity and welfare of residents within a given political subdivision. “If an object is beneficial to the inhabitants and directly connected with the local government, it will be considered a public purpose.” Corsicana Indus. Found. v. Corsicana, 685 S.W.3d 171 (Tex.App—Waco 2024).

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)

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

Abigail, Mary, and Martha Noah Elijah

THE PACK’S QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Puppies are nature’s remedy for feeling unloved…plus numerous other ailments of life.

Richard Allan Palm

THE Editor's NOTES FROM THE FARM

Everyone wants to be a cowboy. Until it’s time to BE a cowboy.

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.Probable Cause

“Probable cause exists if, under the totality of the circumstances set forth in the affidavit before the magistrate, there is a ‘fair probability’ that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place at the time the warrant is issued.”

State v. Huynh , 683 S.W.3d 803 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2023).

2. Self-defense

A defendant may justify aggravated assault with self-defense. To do so, he must show that he reasonably believed his actions were immediately necessary to protect himself against another person’s use or attempted used of unlawful force. Nixon v. State, 674 S.W.3d 384 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 2023).

3. TRE 403

When conducting a Rule 403 balancing test, courts should consider: (1) the evidence’s probative force; (2) the proponent’s need for the evidence; (3) the evidence’s potential to suggest a decision on an improper basis; (4) the evidence’s tendency to distract the jury from the main issues; (5) any tendency for the jury to give the evidence undue weight because it has not been fully equipped to evaluate the evidence’s probative force; and (6) the likelihood that presenting the evidence will consume an inordinate amount of time. Guedea v. State, 683 S.W.3d 549 (Tex.App.—Waco 2023).

4. Peremptory strike

Resolving a claim that the prosecution exercised a peremptory strike based on either race or gender grounds involves a threestep process: (1) the defendant must first make a prima facie showing that the prosecutor deliberately used a peremptory strike for the purpose of eliminating a prospective juror on the basis of either race or gender; (2) if the defendant makes that showing, the burden shifts to the prosecutor to articulate a neutral reason for exercising the strike on the prospective juror in question; and (3) based on the parties’ arguments, the trial court must then determine if the defendant has proven purposeful discrimination. Evans v. State , 683 S.W.3d 573 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2024).

5. Jury Trial

Waiver of the constitutional right to trial by jury requires an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of the rights. “Waivers of constitutional rights not only must be voluntary but must be knowing, intelligent acts done with sufficient awareness of the relevant circumstances and likely consequences.” Hernandez v. State, 683 S.W.3d 586 (Tex.App.— Dallas 2024).

6. Suppression Hearing

At a suppression hearing, a trial court is the exclusive trier of fact and judge of the witnesses’ credibility. Accordingly, a trial court may choose to believe or disbelieve all or any

part of a witness’s testimony. Johnson v. State, 682 S.W.3d 638 (Tex.App.—Tyler 2024).

7. Self-incrimination

The defendant’s privilege against self-incrimination is protected whenever he submits to an examination by the State’s mental health expert on the issue of sanity because the matters that the defendant discloses to the State’s expert cannot be used to address any other issues. Polvon v. State, 682 S.W.3d 651 (Tex.App. Eastland 2024).

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. Libel and Slander

Establishing the falsity of an allegedly defamatory article is not as simple as showing that the article contains a statement that falls short of literally true. “A statement need not be perfectly true; as long as it is substantially true, it is not false.” A news article “with specific statements that err in the details but that correctly convey the gist of a [true] story is substantially true” and therefore not actionable. Polk County Pub. Co. v. Coleman, 685 S.W.3d 71 (Tex. 2024).

2. Inverse Condemnation

To have standing to sue for inverse condemnation, the plaintiff must have a property interest in the property at the time of the alleged taking. Capps v. City of Bryan, 685 S.W.3d 165 (Tex.App—Waco 2024).

3. Plea to the Jurisdiction

“A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea, the purpose of which is to defeat a cause of action without regard to whether the claims asserted have merit.” Furthermore, “the purpose of a dilatory plea is not to force the plaintiffs to preview their case on the merits but to establish a reason why the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims should never be reached.” Id. Capps v. City of Bryan, 685 S.W.3d 165 (Tex.App—Waco 2024).

4. Absurdity Safety Valve

We have, however, often said that statutes should be construed to avoid genuinely absurd results. But “the absurdity safety valve is reserved for truly exceptional cases, and mere oddity does not equal absurdity.” Rodriguez v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Indiana, 684 S.W.3d 789 (Tex. 2024).

5. Separate Property

The party who seeks to assert that property is his separate property must prove its separate character by clear and convincing evidence. “Clear and convincing evidence must outweigh evidence that would satisfy the preponderance standard, but it need not be unequivocal or undisputed.” Interest of J.Y.O., 684 S.W.3d 796 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2022).

6. Mineral Estate Rights

The mineral estate is comprised of five rights: “1) the right

to develop, 2) the right to lease, 3) the right to receive bonus payments, 4) the right to receive delay rentals, and 5) the right to receive royalty payments.” Devon Energy Production Co. v. Enplat II, 677 S.W.3d 1,9 (Tex.App.—El Paso 2023).

7. Texas Citizens Participation Act

The TCPA “protects citizens who petition or speak on matters of public concern from retaliatory lawsuits that seek to intimidate or silence them.” The TCPA provides this protection by means of an expedited motion to dismiss a suit that appears to stifle the defendant’s exercise of certain protected rights, including the right of association. Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Ass’n, 684 S.W.3d 819 (Tex.App.—Austin 2022).

8. Judicial Admission

The elements commonly recited for a judicial admission are: (1) a statement made during the course of a judicial proceeding; (2) that is contrary to an essential fact or defense asserted by the person making the admission; (3) that is clear, deliberate, and unequivocal; (4) that, if given conclusive effect, would be consistent with public policy; and (5) that is not destructive opposing party’s theory of recovery. Rivas V. Pitts, 684 S.W.3d 849 (Tex.App—Dallas 2023).

9. Quasi-Admission

A quasi-admission is treated as a judicial admission when it appears: (1) the declaration was made during the course of a judicial proceeding; (2) the statement is contrary to an essential fact embraced in the declarant’s theory of recovery or defense; (3) the statement is clear and deliberate, and not a mistake; (4) giving conclusive effect to the admission will not be contrary to the public policy on which the rule is based; and (5) the statement is not destructive of the offering party’s theory of recovery. Rivas V. Pitts, 684 S.W.3d 849 (Tex.App— Dallas 2023).

LAWYER’S QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Society already understands that the criminal is not he who washes dirty linen in public, but he who dirties the linen.

—Vladimir Bukovsky g

LAWYERS ON THE MOVE &

in the News

Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones LLP welcomes Cash Barker to the firm as an associate attorney. Cash’s talents will strengthen the firm’s transactional and litigation practice areas.

Cash’s practice encompasses a broad spectrum of legal services, with a primary focus on oil & gas, construction matters, commercial litigation, and a wide array of transactional work. His experience includes handling complex cases across various industries, while his transactional work covers real estate and commercial acquisitions and dispositions, corporate governance, and a variety of contract negotiations. Cash works to provide comprehensive legal solutions for his clients across multiple industries.

Cash graduated cum laude from Texas A&M School of Law, where he served on the Board of the Texas A&M Law Review and served as President of the Agricultural Law Society. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University. g

Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones LLP announces Tiffany Self as the head of the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate section. Tiffany is joining the firm as Of Counsel.

With over twenty-five years of legal experience, Tiffany has focused the last ten years of her career helping families and individuals with simple and complex estate planning, designing asset protection entities, probate and estate administration, guardianships as well as contested matters and estate litigation. Tiffany also has extensive experience in all areas of insurance related litigation (serving as lead and managing counsel), labor and employment law, as well as commercial litigation.

Tiffany received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law. g

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.

Brackett & Ellis, P.C. is pleased to announce the recent addition of James Sanders

James is a graduate of Baylor University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate and earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington. James’ practice is focused on the area of Insurance Defense and litigation.

James has practiced as a litigator, representing clients across a range of areas, including personal injury, construction liability, premises liability, contractual liability, civil assault, and appellate practice. He has experience in District and County Courts throughout Texas, as well as in Federal Courts and the American Arbitration Association, handling both first-party and third-party claims.

On September 3, 2024, Judge Brent A. Carr (Ret.) received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas. The award was presented at this year’s annual judicial conference by Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez of the Fourth Court of Appeals in front of over 700 judges. Judge Carr was honored for his “years of outstanding service and dedication to the Bench, Bar, and citizens of the State of Texas.” He has been a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association since 1983.

Each year, SMU honors outstanding leaders in philanthropy, business, and civic life with the highest honor the University can bestow upon its graduates. This year, Hon. Terry R. Means ’70, ’74, a passionate legal force dedicated to justice, will receive SMU’s prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, during the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award presentation and dinner. This ceremony recognizes extraordinary achievement, outstanding character, and good citizenship, hosted by President R. Ger

By Antoinette Bone The Law Office of Antoinette Bone, PLLC

Membership

Committee Chair

The Power of Networking; ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR EVERY ATTORNEY

INTRODUCTION

In the legal profession, networking isn't just a helpful tool— it's a game-changer. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a fresh face in the field, the connections you build and nurture can make or break your career. Yet, misconceptions persist. Some senior attorneys might think their well-established referral networks are enough, while younger attorneys might believe social media alone will carry them forward. These assumptions are not just outdated—they're risky. This article will debunk these myths and underscore why networking is a non-negotiable for every attorney.

NETWORKING FOR SENIOR ATTORNEYS: A NECESSITY, NOT A CHOICE

The Evolving Legal Landscape: Why Staying Connected Matters

The legal world is in a state of constant flux—new laws, emerging technologies, and shifting methodologies are the norms. For senior attorneys, staying relevant means staying connected. Networking isn’t just about maintaining your practice; it’s about future-proofing it. By engaging with peers, attending industry events, and keeping an ear to the ground, older attorneys can ensure they remain at the forefront of these changes, providing cutting-edge services that clients expect.

Expanding and Strengthening Referral Networks

Even if you have a robust network of referrals, resting on your laurels is a risky strategy. The reality is that your peers are also aging, possibly retiring, or scaling back their practices. By continuously expanding your network, you ensure that your referral pipeline remains strong. Moreover, connecting with younger attorneys eager to take on work that you and your peers might pass on not only keeps your network dynamic but also introduces fresh perspectives that can enrich your practice.

Mentorship: A Two-Way

Street

Networking offers seasoned attorneys the chance to mentor the next generation, sharing valuable insights and hard-earned wisdom. But it’s not just about giving back—it’s also about staying sharp. Engaging with younger colleagues and peers keeps you informed about the latest trends, technologies, and strategies. This exchange of knowledge is mutually beneficial, fostering a more vibrant and collaborative legal community.

NETWORKING FOR YOUNGER ATTORNEYS: BEYOND THE DIGITAL SPHERE

The Quality of Clients: Why Referrals Trump Social Media

Social media and online marketing are powerful tools, but they have limitations. The quality of clients you attract through these channels often pales in comparison to those obtained through referrals. Referred clients come with a built-in level of trust, having been pre-vetted by a mutual contact. This often leads to higher client satisfaction, longer retention, and a more stable practice. Simply put, a strong referral network is a cornerstone of sustainable success.

Collaboration and Resource Sharing: The Power of a Strong Network

Complex legal cases often require a multidisciplinary approach. By building a robust network, young attorneys can tap into a wealth of specialized knowledge and resources, offering clients comprehensive and effective legal solutions. This not only enhances your practice's reputation but also positions you as a valuable collaborator in the legal community.

Building Lasting Relationships: The Key to Long-Term Success

Networking isn’t just about collecting business cards; it’s about building meaningful, lasting relationships. These connections provide a support system, offering advice, collaboration opportunities, and resources that can be pivotal in resolving complex cases. A strong network fosters a sense of community among professionals, creating a safety net that benefits both attorneys and their clients.

Maximizing Your Networking Potential: The Power of Informal Connections

While professional associations, conferences, and bar association events offer valuable opportunities to expand your network, their structured nature can limit the depth of connections you make. These formal settings are great for initial introductions and learning about the latest industry trends, but they often fall short when it comes to building the kind of lasting, meaningful relationships that drive longterm referral business.

The real magic of networking happens in informal settings. Social gatherings, community involvement, and casual meetups provide the ideal environment to get to know your peers on a more personal level. This is where you can truly connect with

others, allowing the "know, like, trust" factor to develop organically. When you invest time in informal networking, you’re not just exchanging business cards; you're building genuine relationships based on shared experiences, trust, and mutual respect.

These deeper connections are the foundation of a strong referral network. When colleagues know you well and trust you, they are far more likely to refer clients to you, confident that you will provide the same level of care and expertise they would. Informal networking turns acquaintances into allies, ensuring that your professional relationships are not just transactional but transformative for your practice.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF NETWORKING FOR WOMEN AND MINORITY ATTORNEYS

Overcoming Barriers Through Networking

For women and minority attorneys, networking is especially vital. Traditional networks often present systemic barriers that can hinder career progression. Specialized networks, such as women’s professional groups, offer a supportive platform for connection, collaboration, and mutual growth. These networks are essential for building the social capital needed to break through these barriers and advance in the legal field.

Building Support Systems: The Importance of Mentorship

Networking across race and gender can open doors to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, which are crucial for career development. For women and minority attorneys, these relationships can provide guidance, open new opportunities, and offer the support needed to navigate the unique challenges they face in the legal profession. For those providing the mentoring and sponsorship of women and diverse individuals it can introduce new perspectives and opportunities for collaboration, strengthen firm culture improving organizational performance, and help develop a broader range of leadership skills.

The Bottom Line: Networking is Non-Negotiable

Networking isn’t just an option—it’s a critical strategy for success in the legal profession. For senior attorneys, it’s about staying relevant, expanding your network, and mentoring the next generation. For younger attorneys, it’s about building a strong client base, accessing resources, and forming lasting professional relationships. And for women and minority attorneys, it’s about overcoming barriers and advancing your career. By engaging in diverse networking activities and understanding their immense benefits, attorneys at all stages of their careers can ensure sustained professional growth and business success. Don’t just network—make it a cornerstone of your practice. g

MEET your board

Welcome to our "Get to Know Your TCBA Board" series! Each issue features board members answering five engaging questions about their practice, interests, and favorite activities. Discover more about the people who contribute to the success of our organization.

Featured Board Members

Robb Catalano

What kind of law do you practice? I practice Criminal Law.

Leslie Hunt

TCBA Board Member / Term ends 2025

What do you like to do with your spare time? Tennis, Pickleball and spend time with family

What’s your favorite TCBA event? Bench Bar

Why are you a member of the TCBA?

I’m a member of TCBA because you get to meet and know Judges and lawyers that practice in other areas of the law that I wouldn’t otherwise have interaction with.

What are you most looking forward to about the fall? TCBA Holiday Party

What kind of law do you practice?

Government Law at the Fort Worth City Attorney’s Office

What do you like to do with your spare time?

I enjoy watching football, trying new restaurants, traveling, spending time with family, and shopping.

What’s your favorite event? Women in the Law Luncheon

Why are you a member of the TCBA? Being a member of the TCBA helps keep me connected to other attorneys in the community.

What are you most looking forward to about the fall? Personally: I can’t wait to surprise my 12-year-old daughter with a trip to Miami in October to see Taylor Swift. Bar-related: Celebrating Kayla’s recognition as this year’s Alumni Legacy Award (A&M Law School’s most prestigious award).

By Pia Lederman

I’m excited to serve as this year’s Wellness Committee Chair! This year, I’m helping the committee focus on three key areas of lawyer wellness:

• Reducing everyday stress

• Creating opportunities for self-care

• Identifying resources for accessibility for all members

Join the Wellness Committee this year for activities like yoga, hobby time, and walks along the Trinity River and around Fort Worth. If you’d like to become a member of the Wellness Committee, please log into your MyTCBA portal and update your subscriptions.

If you have any questions, contributions, or services to offer, feel free to contact kristin@tarrantbar.org. g

Bring your water bottle, friends, family and coworkers and join us for a walk after work.

Walk STARTS at Major Ripley Arnold statue to the Mark Twain statue.

Parking available on Taylor Street and around the statues. Some parking is free after 6PM so check your parking situation.

RSVP not required

Join Us in Making a Difference COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE

The Tarrant County Bar Community Service Committee invites you to join us in our mission to give back while fostering connections among our members.

Tired of the office? Want to enjoy the fall weather? Join us as we kick off the bar year with a family volunteer event at Opal's Farm on Saturday, November 2. Opal's Farm is a five-acre urban farm in Fort Worth, started by Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” Our day at the farm will involve weeding, mulching, picking vegetables, and other gardening tasks. It’s the perfect way to unwind, recharge, and connect with your peers while making a difference in the community. Please dress for the weather and sun, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring a water bottle. Opal's Farm provides gloves and tools, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.

Looking ahead to spring, we’re organizing a blood drive and park clean-up. These events not only benefit our community but also strengthen the bonds within our bar membership. Community service isn’t just a good deed; it’s a chance to grow as a professional. It opens our minds, sharpens our problemsolving skills, and reminds us of the positive impact we can have on the world. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with colleagues outside the office and traditional networking settings.

We hope you’ll join us for these events and consider joining our committee. Together, we can create a more vibrant and meaningful bar community that truly reflects the best of our profession and Tarrant County. g

By Spencer Mainka Pham Harrison, LLP Community Service Committee Chair

Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

2024 Pro Bono Award Spotlight

Thank you to the volunteer attorneys who assisted with the True Worth Place General Advice Clinic

CANTEY HANGER LLP

Cantey Hanger’s roots go back 140 year in the booming frontier town of Fort Worth, Texas. Talented trial attorneys Samuel Benton Cantey and William Capp formed the firm and were joined in 1905 by William Hanger. Currently, Cantey Hanger operates from offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, and Ellis County to provide local service to our Texas clients. Three streets in Fort Worth now bear the names of the original partners in tribute. The firm’s dedication to its hometown remains steadfast, exemplified by Cantey Hanger Plaza, its enduring residence proudly situated on the West side of downtown Fort Worth. g

The long and the short of Ann is that she treats absolutely everyone with respect and is genuinely down-to-earth. She impressed upon me the importance of two key principles: treat everyone with respect and remember that your word is your bond. Integrity is paramount—integrity, integrity, integrity.

—Robert Blankenship Alexis Allen Law, PLLC

• John Barnes

• John Corbin

Deborah Krane

• Joshua Ross

• Philip Vickers

• Melissa Wilks

Your sponsorship is vital in helping us provide essential services and support to those in

Tarrant County Bar Association

LAWYER REFERRAL

INFORMATION SERVICE

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

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

practice areas

LRIS averages more than more than 29 330 600

Lawyer Referral & Information Service News

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

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.

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.

The LRIS is pleased to announce that Andrew Leibowitz has earned the title of Second Referral Attorney for TCBA's Lawyer Referral & Information Service for the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024! Leibowitz earned $25,000 through his dedicated participation in our program.

Why Join LRIS?

• Maximize Your Earnings: Like Jonathan, you can earn substantial rewards by offering quality referrals.

• Grow Your Practice: Connect with clients in need of your expertise and grow your client base.

• Build Your Reputation: Build valuable relationships and be recognized for your exceptional service.

For more details about joining LRIS, please visit www.tarrantbar.org/JoinLRIS or reach out to us at lris@tarrantbar.org.

JUDICIAL PROFILE

Chief Justice John G. Hill

Justice John G. Hill's stellar education, deep roots in Fort Worth, and passion for the law resulted in a life of dedication to public service and experiences in politics that led him to become the ninth Chief Justice of the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth.

Born in 1943 in Fort Worth, he was the youngest of three children of Homa and Rachel Hill. Hill’s father was a longtime Fort Worth attorney who began his practice of civil law in downtown Fort Worth. He married Rachel Keeton, a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. Following their marriage, Rachel moved her church membership to Broadway Baptist, the church Homa attended. Homa became a deacon and Rachel attended meetings of the Women’s Missionary Union. They were faithful members of Broadway Baptist throughout their lifetime.

As Hill grew up, most political decisions were made in the Democratic Primary. There were four factions in the Democratic Party: conservative, moderate, labor, and liberal. “My father was in the moderate faction, with many friends in the other three factions.”

Hill’s brother, Homa Hill, Jr, taught school in Beaumont and Houston. While in Beaumont, he obtained an MS in oceanography from Lamar State University. In John’s subsequent campaigns for judge, Homa would support him by making a surprise appearance at one of John's Fort Worth fundraisers.

Hill recalled that his sister Cleva did a wonderful thing for him that he would never forget. When he was young, his sister took him on a flight from Dallas Love Field and then traveled with him to every major city on the east and west coasts of the United States. He recalls attending a segment of The Tonight Show, hosted by Jack Parr, while in New York City. When they arrived at Washington D.C., Congressman Jim Wright arranged for a staff member to take them to a Washington Nationals baseball game. It was John’s first professional baseball game to attend. John and Cleva also visited Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and the southern suburbs of Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, they visited Disneyland shortly after its opening. One year after the trip, Cleva married Bob Howard, a great nephew of President William McKinley.

Paschal High School

Hill attended Paschal High School when O.D. Wyatt was

By Perry Cockerell, Perry Cockerell, P.C.

the principal. “He was well known and was a big deal.” At Paschal, Hill studied hard and was an achiever, with straight A’s throughout high school. In his last summer at high school, he enrolled as a student at Baylor University, taking summer classes before returning to his senior year at Paschal. At the time of Hill's graduation from Paschal, three male students, including Hill, and a larger number of female students, all of whom had straight A records, competed to be the male and female honor graduates. The male honor graduate award went to Jim Campbell, while Susan Dreyfus received the female honor graduate award. John has been grateful to enjoy their friendship in the years since graduation. Hill graduated from Paschal in 1962.

Baylor University and Law School

When he began college full time at Baylor University, Hill was already ahead of the incoming freshman class because of his earlier enrollment at Baylor. The university enrolled him in its honors program.

In 1964, Hill, with other Baylor students, toured most western European countries, except for Spain and Portugal. The tour also included Poland, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, and four Scandinavian countries.

Before the trip, many of the students came early to see the usual tourist sights and attend the 1964 World’s Fair.

Those going on the tour embarked on a Cunard ship on a week-long voyage from New York City to Liverpool, England. During the voyage, Baylor students won 1/3 of the ship's voyage-long bingo pot. With his share of the pot, Hill was able to buy a cashmere sweater at Harrods Department Store in London. “The ship arrived in Liverpool, the home of The Beatles. The Beatles were big,” Hill said.

In college, Hill majored in history and law. His legal classes counted toward his law degree. In June 1966, Hill graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. By the time of graduation, he needed only one more year to finish law school.

Marriage to Lynda Fant

During college, Hill was on a double date with a friend from Fort Worth. The other couple consisted of Lynda Fant, who had a date with a pledge from John’s social club. John and Lynda, who were both interested in politics, began a conversation about the presidential race between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. Fant supported Barry Goldwater, while Hill supported Lyndon Johnson.

Later, when Lynda was no longer dating his pledge, Hill

asked her if she would like to go out.

Lynda responded, “How about today?”

After he and Lynda began dating, Hill was elated to learn that she had become a Democrat since their double date. On August 28, 1966, two months after graduating from college, Hill married Lynda in the Miller Chapel, on the Baylor campus across from their church, Seventh and James Baptist.

One year later, in 1967, Hill graduated from Baylor Law School.

Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office

After law school, the Hills moved to Fort Worth. While waiting for his Texas Bar exam results, Hill applied for a job with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. Frank Coffey was the District Attorney. John also took a temporary job working at the Tarrant County Law Library.

One morning, while working with Del DeHay, (the librarian for whom the library is now named), Hill opened the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and read that he was starting work that day at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. He showed the article to Mrs. DeHay and told her that he thought he had better go across the street to start work.

While handling felony prosecutions, Hill begin to have mixed feelings about his trial work, realizing that he was drawn to appellate litigation. Hill, who was serving on the pastor search committee for Broadway Baptist Church, went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to hear a candidate speak to the students there.

During his remarks, the pastor said, “Don't do it because it's popular; do what you’re intended to do.” Because the lesson resonated with him, Hill went to see Frank Coffey to explain that he would like to become an appellate attorney. Right away, Coffey assigned him to serve with the office’s sole appellate attorney and, a brief time later, reassigned that attorney as a felony prosecutor. Hill worked for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office for five years, from 1967 to 1972.

Municipal Court

In 1972 an opening occurred in the Fort Worth Municipal Court of Fort Worth. Hill decided to apply, and the Fort Worth City Council appointed him to that position, to be effective in March 1972.

Tarrant County Court at Law

In 1974, Tarrant County only had one County Court at Law. When incumbent Judge Drew Clifton announced that he would not be running for reelection, Chief Municipal Judge Joe Drago announced that he would run for the seat in the Democratic Primary. When three others announced that they were running, Drago found himself in a four-way race. Hill was interested in running but would not do so if Drago were running. Drago decided to drop out of the race, creating an opening for Hill to run for the seat. This was a serious decision for the Hills because it meant quitting John’s

job as Municipal Court Judge, resulting in no certain income for most of the year. When John discussed the situation and asked her what she thought they should do, she promptly said that he should run.

The race was not easy. “At that time, there was an effort to move the Fort Worth Club to the Fort Worth National Bank Building. My father, who was affiliated with a competing bank, successfully opposed the move. Babe Fuqua, an officer at Fort Worth National, was not happy with the decision not to move the club. Although it was customary for Fuqua to receive candidates seeking his endorsement in an election, I did not seek his endorsement. I received all other endorsements, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, except for one.”

Although Fuqua threw his support behind all three of Hill's opponents, Hill won the election without a runoff, losing only one precinct, by one vote.

Hill had no opponent in the general election. After the primary, Hill returned to work at the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office as an appellate attorney until January 1975, when he was sworn in as Judge of the Tarrant County Court at Law.

Throughout the campaign, Hill enjoyed the support of his many family and friends. Even David Hill, at age three often approached adults to say, “Please vote for my daddy.”

322nd District Court

In 1972 Judge Eva Barnes of the 322nd District Court announced that she would soon announce whether she would run for reelection. Judge Barnes was Tarrant County’s first female judge and assistant District Attorney. She held the seat for 16 years. “When Judge Barnes informally announced she might not run, I was interested in that race, but I could not announce until she formally announced she was not running. After she formally announced that she was not running, I ran for the court and had one primary opponent, Ben McClure.” Hill won the primary, winning all but a handful of Tarrant County precincts.

John faced his first Republican opponent, Odell McBrayer, in the general election, Hill prevailed in the election.

In February 1979, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted that at 35, Hill was the youngest domestic relations judge on the bench. Hill spoke of his early days on the family court bench and presiding over divorce cases. Hill served on the bench when joint custody was on the verge of becoming the law. Hill said he was “open to it. It takes a great deal of maturity to handle joint custody, and it is difficult even at best. It creates problems for a child being on the move, but it does enable the child to preserve better relations with both parents.”

Second Court of Appeals

A 1980 constitutional amendment added criminal jurisdiction to all Texas Courts of Civil Appeals making them all Courts of Appeals. Because of the added workload, in 1983 the Texas Legislature decided to add one additional justice to SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

the Second Court of Appeals. Texas Governor Mark White appointed Hill to the new seat. Hill was chosen because of his experience and longtime affiliation with the Democratic Party. Hill’s appointment was until the 1984 elections.

As a result of Republican Bill Clements’ election for governor in 1978, and his ability to appoint Republicans as judges or justices of Texas district and appellate courts, Republican candidates became more competitive in general elections. Although the Second Court of Appeals justices were all Democrats when Hill was appointed, Tod Weaver became the first Republican on the court when he defeated Howard Fender, replacing Fender as Chief Justice of the court.

The courthouse shooting

On July 1, 1992, nine years after John had begun serving on the court, he woke up at 4:30 a.m. and made his wife, Lynda, a cup of coffee and then prepared their breakfast. They went on a walk through their Mistletoe Heights neighborhood. After they returned home, John helped her pack for a business trip to Austin.

At 8:30 a.m., attorney John Edwards, a 33-year-old attorney with Haynes and Boone in downtown Dallas, was greeting his secretary on the second floor of his office building and preparing to leave for Fort Worth.

Chris Marshall, 41, head of the appellate division of the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, decided to stop at the Court of Appeals to pick up the latest orders from the court before going to work. He decided to stay to watch Steve Conder, a young prosecutor, argue that morning before the court.

George Lott, a deranged father whose visitation rights had been restricted by a trial court ruling, decided to drive to the courthouse. He ascended the stairs to the Court of Appeals on the third floor with a briefcase and a shoulder strap. Inside the briefcase was a 9mm pistol.

Three justices were sitting that day to hear oral arguments from attorneys concerning cases before the court. Hill, who was the presiding justice that day, sat in the center, with Justice Clyde Ashworth on his left and Justice David Farris on his right.

About 9:45 am, Steve Conder, a 23-year-old assistant district attorney, argued to reverse an order in a trespass case, contending that the defense motion should not have been granted. Marshall, his boss, entered the courtroom, taking a seat on the right side of the courtroom.

Lott entered the courtroom, sat down next to a family, and began flipping through a blank legal pad.

Edwards, a 33-year-old Dallas lawyer, exchanged greetings with Veronica Willard, an attorney with Cantey & Hanger, LLP, who was working with Edward's office on his case.

After Conder’s opening argument in the trespass case, Daniel Hollifield, representing the defendant, began his presentation. After five minutes, Lott stood up, removed the 9mm handgun from his briefcase, and aimed his pistol. Hollifield turned around and saw Lott. “I looked around

and saw a man holding a gun and pointing toward the front of the courtroom, firing,” he recalled.

Rapid firing began. The first shot sounded like an explosion. One bullet went through the bench where Justice Ashworth was sitting, piercing him below the right hip, before exiting.

Hill was hit in the shoulder. The 9mm bullet missed major arteries, piercing his right shoulder and exiting through his back. He got underneath the bench, never seeing who shot him.

Lott shot Marshall in the forehead when Marshall confronted him.

A shot hit Conder in the shoulder.

Lott approached the bench and began firing. He stalked the bench, saying “You’re a dead man.”

After 15 shots were fired, Justice Ashworth pulled himself up by one arm, peered over the bench, and made eye contact as Lott reloaded his 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

Lott approached Ashworth saying, “I’m going to kill you.” Firing again, Lott shot Ashworth in the pelvis, causing Ashworth severe damage.

“I looked back up at him, and he looked down at me. He seemed to know what he was doing, but it was a scary, scary look he gave me,” Ashworth said.

Edwards had left the courtroom to pursue help. Lott fled the courtroom and, as he was leaving, saw Edwards and gunned him down near the entrance of the Tarrant County Law Library.

Lott descended the stairs in the courthouse and even displayed his weapon on the way down. Lott walked past deputies unaware of what had happened.

Hill and Ashworth were rushed to Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital in serious condition. Conder was treated at John Peter Smith Hospital and released.

Six hours later, Lott turned himself in to Dallas Police at the WFAA/ Channel 8 studio in Dallas, after an interview with Tracy Rowlett, a news anchor for the station. Lott's trial was held in Amarillo due to a change of venue. The jury found him guilty and assessed the death penalty. Lott was executed on September 20, 1994.

Justice Ashworth remained in the hospital for months. His wounds left him partially paralyzed in his right leg. Ashworth went “from a wheelchair to a walker, to a cane, to walking on his own,” said his son and attorney, Bruce Ashworth.

Hill said that the incident while at court had not affected his view of the courthouse. “It’s just something that happened there,” he said. “I think the courthouse represents for the people of Tarrant County a symbol of democracy and the fact that we operate under a government of laws.”

Chief Justice

In 1991 Chief Justice Tod Weaver announced that he would run in 1992 for a justice position on the court. His election to that position created a vacancy in the office of Chief Justice. Governor Ann Richards appointed Hill to succeed Tod Weaver as Chief Justice.

“I am happy that Governor Richards appointed me to be Chief Justice,” Hill said after the appointment, “I will work hard to deserve the trust the governor had in me.”

Every seat in the fourth-floor courtroom was full at the swearing in of Hill, which also included the swearing in of District Judge Sidney Farrar, who was appointed to fill the seat that Hill had vacated to become Chief Justice. Television monitors had been placed in the hallway for the overflow crowd to see the proceedings, but many were unable to see because the crowd was so large.

Hill recalled that when he was in elementary school, his mother kept him busy during the summer break from school by propping up a book on how to type and encouraging him to teach himself how to type. Hill noted that at the time there was no known reason for a young man to learn how to type, but that at the Court of Appeals he spent a good part of his time typing.

At one point the court changed its rules to provide that if an opinion in a case had not been issued for a significant period after oral argument, the court would notify the justice assigned to write the opinion that, after a brief time, the responsibility would be shifted to another justice. The change was successful, presumably because no justice wished to be embarrassed about having his or her case reassigned.

1994 Election

In 1994 Hill faced Republican appellate attorney John Cayce, with Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller. Cayce’s run was thought to be a long shot. Hill had name identification, and the shooting three years earlier made him appear undefeatable. But the demographics of Texas had shifted in Tarrant County and in the state from Democratic to Republican. Republican Tod Weaver had successfully defeated Chief Justice Howard Fender, becoming the first Republican Chief Justice on the court. George W. Bush was running against Governor Ann Richards, and he defeated her with 54% to her 46%. Cayce’s timing was correct because the political winds in Tarrant County had shifted, just as they had statewide. Cayce defeated Hill by the same percentage.

By the end of his term in 1994, Hill served 12 years on the court and two years as Chief Justice. During that time, he wrote 293 opinions, including 53 opinions written during his term as Chief Justice.

After the court

After being defeated for election, Hill continued to work for the next seventeen years as a visiting appellate justice in Courts of Appeals across the state, from 1995 to 2012, when he retired. From 1995 through 2012, he wrote 145 opinions. During his entire career, he wrote 438 opinions, 233 in civil cases and 205 in criminal cases.

On May 10, 2000, almost nine years after the shooting, Justices Hill, Ashworth, and Farris reunited on the bench to hear a case after the entire court recused itself from a matter. This time they were in the new Court of Appeals courtroom

located in the Tim Curry Criminal Court building on the 9th floor.

On occasion, Hill served on the Second Court of Appeals after becoming a visiting appellate justice.

Hill enjoyed his time on the court. “I liked the interaction with the other justices. I also enjoyed holding court in the county seat of one of the other eleven counties in our district.”

On April 24 2018, Hill and his wife marched in the Fort Worth March For Our Lives in support of students from schools, in memory of Chris Marshall and John Edwards. “Both of these men died while seeking to prevent or minimize the casualties caused by the shooter at the courthouse. Their efforts probably saved my life," wrote Hill in an article for the Star-Telegram. g

Justice John Hill with his wife, Lynda

Judge Patricia Baca Bennett

Judge Don Cosby

Judge Kristina Denapolis

Judge Lori DeAngelis

Judge John Eck

Judge Megan Fahey

Judge Jeffery Kaitcer

Judge Carla Kelman

Judge Susan McCoy

Judge Jesse Nevarez

Judge Jennifer Rymell

Judge Melody Wilkinson

Candy Contributors:

Justice Dabney Bassel

Judge Randall Fluke

Judge Ryan Hill

Justice Dana Womack

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CLE CORNER

Missed this year's Bench Bar Conference? Check out the recordings below and watch at your convenience. Visit www.tarrantbar.org/cleondemand to view all available recordings or to purchase a recording.

Bench Bar Conference CLE Recordings

Topic: Civil Law Track

Get Involved: Renew Your Membership and Participate in Upcoming Events!

There’s still time to renew your TCBA membership and take advantage of the member benefits available! The new bar year started July 1, and your TCBA section and committee chairs have been working hard planning events and seminars for the program year. Now is the perfect opportunity to get involved with TCBA. With 18 substantive law sections and numerous committees, there’s a place for everyone! Log into your MyTCBA portal today to update your subscriptions. If you have any questions, please contact me at kristin@tarrantbar.org.

In August, the TCBA celebrated the court staff of Tarrant County with an awards reception at the City Club. Additionally, the TCBA office hosted over 100 Texas A&M School of Law

1L students, Tarrant County judges, and attorneys at a networking luncheon and Mentor Monday with Steven Laird.

In September, we kicked off our Brown Bag series with a full panel of speakers, and the quarterly Docket Call event was held in conjunction with the Family Law Bar Association at Maple Branch Craft Brewery in Fort Worth.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting events planned! Join us for Boo at the Bar on October 25—a family-friendly event featuring costumes, games, and judges passing out candy. Then, on November 2, join us at Opal’s Farm for a community service day that is also family-friendly.

Check the TCBA calendar to register for all events. We hope to see you at one soon! g

Welcome New Members of the TCBA

ATTORNEYS

Alexis Archer

Brook Barrow

Michael Betrus

Kami Beaty

Ryan Campbell

Edward Castillo

Brent Dore

Lisa Duffee

Lauren Duffer

Taylor Ferguson

Quincy Ferrill

Kandi Gilder

Bonny Haynes

Andrew Herreth

Paul Hess

Hunter Jones

Tino Illiparambil

Robert Keating

Raygen Lee

Alyssa Marquette

Barry Martines

Alex McClintic

Jonathan Nelson

Daeja Pemberton

Sharon Pickrell

Samuel Pumphrey

James Sanders

Sarah Sawyer Clinton Smith

Kate Withers

James Yerby

Scott Zimmer

JUDICIARY

Hon. Wayne Salvant

Hon. Charles Vanover

LEGAL STAFF

Rachel Marzolo

Krystle Passmore

LAW STUDENT

Genene Adams

Saad Akhtar

Sydney Alexander

Roxana Aquije

McKenzie Arata

Miranda Archuleta

Cody Asbury

Anna Balch

Trinity Balzer

Rafael Barata

Delaney Barghols

Harrison Barnes

Adoree Benke

Amelia Berg

Aaditya Bharadwaj

Zhen Bi

Jaydee Borel

Annie Brown

Graham Brown

Maddy Brown

Emma Bruney

Avia Cancino

Divina Carrillo

Darius Carrozzo

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Austin Chen

Haein Choi

James Connolly

Olivia Cooper

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Samuel Darrow

Sean Daugherty

Tori Davis

Alexander Dawkins

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Anna Eckhoff

Makenzi Edwards

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Mariam Farahmand

Natasha Ferreira

Tate Francois

Connor Frank

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Michael Gilmore

Daisy Graham

Barrett Grubbs

David Hernandez

Tracy Hernandez

Ryan Higgins

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Garrett Holbert

Taylor Huynh

Kaliana Johnson

Blaine Kaplani

Bomin Kim

Charlie Kulick

Daniel Lanclos

Carter Listi

Gwen Logsdon

Matthew Lopez

Jonathan Luevano

Abigail Majerus

Samuel Marcrum

Alba Martinez

Hannah Mascetti

Kaya Mason

Jaeden McCarter

Caitlin McLaughlin

Catherine Meisenheimer

Lauren Meyers

Karin Michael

Tiffany Micu

Joseph Montanaro

Abigail MoonFuentes

Maiah Morris

Marissa Neie

Sydney Nwuli

John Oliverio

Praise Orjih

Brandon Ouansafi

Hema Patel

Antonios Patsatzis

Payton Perez

Abbiee Pierce

Kealey Poole

Adam Portillo

Victoria Powell

Sydney Puddicombe

Isaac Reyes

George Rodger

Francisco Romero

Jose Ruiz

Ashton-Brette

Rusthoven

Conor Shannon

Caroline Shee

Zimar Siddiqui

Ryan Smith

Sophia Snomi

Jacob Song

Josiah Spears

Roshini Sriram

Danielle Stacey

Heather Stewart

Delaney Stidham

Donald Strickland

Brooke Thoendel

Cody Tieken

Taylor Tilmon

Juliana Tookoian

Mandy Tran

Jason Trott

Panagiotis A.

Tzanetos

Anthony Ustariz

Justin Valladares

MacKenzie Van Buren

Kaylee Vitato

Alexis Whitsett

Steven Wilkerson

Alexander Wolfe

Brandon Yim

Mentor Highlights Glynis McGinty

Glynis has been a tireless friend and dedicated mentor to me. As a baby lawyer she gave me, translated “free,” space and staff to practice law and showed me how to survive and thrive as a solo practitioner. She answered questions, provided guidance and criticism, and encouraged me to enjoy the practice of law. Gam taught me to go for it. Don’t wait for anyone to do what you can do if you try. I am forever grateful for her impact on my legal career.

—Marvina Robinson Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office

North Texas Gives Here

North Texas Community Foundation helps individuals, families, and businesses create tax-efficient giving plans to support the local causes and nonprofits they care about most.

We offer a variety of charitable funds to support your clients’ giving today and for generations to come.

LegalLine

Do you have two hours to spare on a Thursday evening to assist those seeking legal advice? LegalLine is looking for attorneys from all areas of law to contribute their expertise and support the community. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Sarah at sarah@tarrantbar.org. g

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

THANK

Madeline D’Alise

John

Robert

Julie Camacho

Ndidi Gbulie

Merrit Klapperich

David Pritchard Event Time: 5 PM–7 PM

Ali

Cynthia Maragoudakis

Angelia Megahan

Joseph Mokodean

Debra and Vernell Sturns at Communities in Schools

2024 COURT STAFF AWARD RECIPIENTS

Appellate Courts

Karen Brown | Deputy Clerk

Second Court of Appeals

Civil County Courts

Tracey Laffoon | Court Coordinator

96th District Court

Family Courts

Daniel Bina | Court Coordinator

Child Protection Courts

Criminal County Courts

Lee Ann Swan | Court Coordinator

Criminal District Court No. 4

Federal/State Courts

Elsherie Moore | Courtroom Deputy

U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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Haynes and Boone, LLP

Law Offices of Jason Smith

Westbrook Law, PLLC

Oliver Heard

Oliver Heard was married to my oldest sister. He was an attorney in San Antonio. He helped me get in law school, get a job at the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Tarrant County DA's Office. Had he not done those things, I never would have been an attorney. He taught me that a good lawyer never fails to return phone calls. People like that he would say. I found in the 30 years I knew Oliver that even though he had over 150 employees in his law firm, he was never too busy to take my call or return the call.

—Bill Ray Law Office of William H "Bill" Ray, PC

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A Professionally Rewarding Experience

By Richard Henderson, Founder of the Costa Rica CLE trip

CLE in Costa Rica has proven to be a professionally rewarding experience since TCBA began sponsoring the event in various formats in 1996. July 2024 marked our best year yet!

In 1996, TCBA staff members Trisha Graham and Carolina Ibarra attended the inaugural event, joined by several judges, including the late Clyde Ashworth and Hal Lattimore. Over the years, the program has evolved significantly.

In 2024, the CLE transformed into Texas CLE, featuring presentations in Spanish tailored for attorneys with Spanish-speaking practices, with English translations available. Participants had the opportunity to visit local courts, observing trials, including a high-profile murder case covered by the local press. Local attorneys delivered insightful talks, and we presented a PowerPoint on the methodology and history of autopsies relevant to criminal practitioners.

Looking ahead to 2025, under the direction of Kara Carreras, we will offer English translations, with some talks conducted in English as well. For questions, feel free to reach out to Kara at 817.975.3060, Kristina Voorhuis Legan at 915.422.9627, Veronica Garza at 210.296.8181, or myself at 817.271.4403.

The venue for this enriching experience is the beautiful Hotel Bougainvillea, nestled within a secure and family-oriented 10-acre garden. The CLE sessions are intensive yet engaging, and we ensure to take afternoons off to explore local attractions.

Stay tuned for articles in the bulletin with more information!

Don Lane Stallings

1957–2024

Don Lane Stallings passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the age of 67.

Don was born January 8, 1957 to the late Jesse Wayne Stallings and Bennie Dale Flint Stallings in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended and graduated from Haltom High School and then attended Texas Wesleyan and Baylor School of Law. He proudly served his country by enlisting in the US Navy. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother and will be deeply missed.

Survivors: Wife of 37 years, Dinah Stallings; son, Sean Stallings and spouse, John Davenport; daughter, Lauren Stallings Blue; son, John Stallings (Kyley); granddaughters, Dixie Blue, Savannah Blue, Isabella Blue, Bennett Blue, Maura Blue and Sadie Stallings; grandsons, Clapton Blue, Jackson Blue, Joseph Blue and Benjamin Blue; sister, Linda Nowell; and numerous friends and business associates. g Published on Legacy.com by Brown Owens & Brumley Family Funeral Home & Crematory on Aug. 23, 2024.

Jack Rattikin Jr.

1933–2024

William Jackson Rattikin Jr., 90 years old and a lifelong citizen of his beloved Fort Worth, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024, ascending to his Lord and Savior and rejoining his cherished wife of 64 years, Glenda. Attorney, explorer, dreamer, boater, astronomer, driven businessman and above all, devoted family man are all words that describe Jack and his life. His dedication to his family, friends, employees and business associates have forever impacted and blessed countless lives and families, a powerful legacy that will continue for generations to come.

Jack graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth, the University of Texas at Austin School of Business and UT Law School before joining the US Army, ascending to the rank of Captain while overseeing railroad operations for the Transportation Corps in Virginia. Subsequently, Jack returned to Fort Worth to begin his law practice and join his father and mother at the renowned Rattikin Title Company. His immense contributions to the legal community and title

industry are legendary, steering both to new heights locally as well as nationally. Jack served as President of both the Texas and American Land Title Associations, garnering praises far and wide for his leadership and innovation within the title industry. His passion for detail, and insistence on doing things the right way, led to an outstanding reputation in the business community, and he instilled a work ethic in his family and employees that lasts to this day.

Jack was truly in his element while captaining his boat down the navigable rivers and shorelines of this country, or shepherding his wife and children by motorhome to countless national parks and historical sites across the USA and beyond. The lessons learned, and immense appreciation for God’s amazing natural creation that emanated from these family trips, has had a profound impact on all of his children, and now their children. Family time meant everything to Jack, and he made sure that the love of God and family were of primary importance to all.

One of Jack’s most enduring legacies began in 1970 with his “discovery” of the pristine white beaches of Destin, Florida. Frequent family trips to this amazing area began a cherished tradition near and dear to all members of the Rattikin family. And not to be overlooked, Jack’s loyalty to and love for the University of Texas Longhorns cannot be overstated.

Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife Glenda, his father William Jackson Rattikin, Sr., his mother Annie Lea Rattikin, and his sister Ann Rattikin Thurman. He is survived by his son Jack Rattikin III and wife Laura, his daughter Alicia Rattikin Lindsey and husband Stephen, his son Jeffrey A. Rattikin, and his daughter Allyson Rattikin Grona and husband Brian. Jack is also survived by 11 amazing grandchildren, 4 adorable great-grandchildren (with number 5 on the way!), and the Bill Thurman family of Austin. Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation are extended to Jack’s special friend, Jan Redding, his gracious caregivers Lee Fiero and Leah Richardson and their teams, and Community Hospice of Texas. The love and care of these extraordinary individuals provided great comfort and enjoyment to Jack’s last years

Published by Star-Telegram from Sep. 6 to Sep. 8, 2024.

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

September/October 2024 Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 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

Join this 1 hour CLE on hacking and stalking in family law. Learn how most stalking stems from shared accounts, strategies to support your clients, and cost-effective ways to use expert witnesses. Protect your clients effectively!