Judge Julie Kocurek of the 390th District Court has been named the 2024 recipient of the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. The award is given by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and is one of the country’s highest judicial honors.  The recipient is decided by the Governance and Nominations Committee of NCSC’s board of directors, which

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during September 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of October 9, 2024. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Court affirms where party fails to rebut presumption of sufficient notice of a hearing. St. George Affordable Auto, LLC d/b/a Skyline

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from April 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of October 3, 2024. EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY – Proving Defendant’s Identity in Probation-Revocation Proceedings. Evidence was sufficient to prove that Defendant who violated probation was the

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in September 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Department of Labor’s minimum salary requirement did not exceed its delegated power to interpret the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “White Collar Exemption.” Mayfield v. United States Department

The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) held its annual Evening with the Judiciary at Chateau Bellevue on Thursday, Sept. 26. For more than 20 years, this reception has been a signature event where AYLA members have the opportunity to share an evening of food and conversation with local, state, and federal judges.  We also thank our generous and loyal sponsors

At the AYLA board retreat in early August, AYLA President Emily Morris expressed that one of her goals this year is inclusion and prioritizing CLEs for AYLA members. With that end goal in mind, AYLA is intentionally recruiting young lawyers interested in speaking on their area of expertise on our panels and as CLE presenters.  Including young lawyers in presentations

The legal profession is often associated with prestige, financial success, and intellectual rigor. However, behind the veneer of professional accomplishment, many lawyers grapple with intense pressures, burnout, and stress throughout their careers. When they retire, these challenges often don’t disappear. In fact, for many, retirement can exacerbate underlying mental health and substance abuse issues, leading to a crisis that demands

Kudos Congratulations to the following, who were among those named by Texas Lawyer as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice fields in and around Austin: Thomas K. Anson Energy Regulatory Law Tom Anson practices state and federal energy and utility law at Clark Hill. He assists companies and governmental bodies on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters involving electricity

Hi, I’m Carly, and by the grace of a Power much smarter than me, I have been in a 12-step recovery program since April 30, 2011. I have never publicly disclosed my sobriety despite it being a part of my life about which I am most proud, most protective, and for which I am most profoundly grateful. Yet, I have