22nd Annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala Raises More Than $200,000 

More than 500 guests attended the “Secret Garden”-themed Austin Bar Foundation Gala on Jan. 25, 2025, at the Four Seasons in downtown Austin. Members of the legal community arrived in their black-tie best. Austin Bar President Mary-Ellen King hired flower-covered stilt walkers, who posed with guests to take pictures. Attendees enjoyed an elegant pre-event cocktail hour while perusing the auction …

UT Study: Parole Reform in Texas Could Save Millions, Reduce Crowded Prisons

The University of Texas School of Law’s William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law and the Civil Rights Clinic released a report recommending changes to Texas’ parole system. Parole reform is needed, the authors argue, because the state has become over-reliant on incarceration: Texas has a prison populat… To view the rest of this article, please log into your …

ABA Suspends DEI Rule as Threat of Funding Cuts Looms

The American Bar Association has suspended its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standard in response to the Trump administration’s Department of Education (DOE) mandate that such policies be eliminated or federal funding for higher education may be cut. The suspension of this standard, called Standard 206, will last until at least Aug. 31, 2025, the ABA Legal Education and Admissions …

American Bar Association Issues Statement on Remarks Questioning Legitimacy of Legal Review

The American Bar Association condemns recent remarks of high-ranking officials of the administration that appear to question the legitimacy of judicial review and demand impeachment of a judge merely because the court did not agree with the government’s position. These comments pose serious risks to our constitutional framework that separates power among three co-equal branches. Last week, the administration lost …

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Issues Statement on JD Vance Comments

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers has one mission: to protect and promote the Rule of Law.  We condemn the new administration’s repeated disregard for the U.S. Constitution, as well as statutory and common law. In accordance with their Constitutional mandate, courts have rightfully intervened to protect legal rights and the Rule of Law.  Sunday (Feb. 23, 2025), Vice President …

Leadership Academy 2025 Kicks Off

What an incredible start to Leadership Academy 2025! The #LeadershipAcademy2025 orientation on Jan. 10 was an inspiring kickoff to this year’s journey. The 2025 class heard numerous thought-provoking presentations from leaders in the Austin legal community.

2025 Starts with New Judge Investitures

Below are the remarks of Austin Bar President Mary-Ellen King during the recent inverstiture ceremonies for the new Third Court of Appeals justices, Travis County criminal magistrates, and district court judges.