The Second Annual Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Awards were presented on June 4th at the annual Supreme Court Historical Society dinner.  This year’s recipients were Lloyd Lochridge of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore in Austin and Judge Thomas Reavley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  Pictured are Jonathan Smaby, Executive Director of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics; Lloyd Lochridge;  former Chief Justice Jack Pope; Judge Thomas Reavley; and Charlie Wilson, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Center for Legal Ethics.  

The Texas Center for Legal Ethics is accepting nominations for the second annual Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award. The award honors one of the Center’s three founders, former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope, who was the recipient of the inaugural Award in 2009. It is presented to a Texas appellate lawyer or a Texas appellate judge who epitomizes the highest level of professionalism and integrity. Both active and retired lawyers and judges are eligible. Nominations should include a one-page explanation of the nominee’s qualifications as well as a bio or C.V.   Deadline for nominations: April 1, 2010.   Submit nominations to: jonathan.sma...

The Center celebrated its birthday by throwing a birthday bash on November 5th in Austin. The event, which also celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, included speeches by former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope, one of the original founders of the Center, and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eugene Cook, who was one of the principal authors of the Texas Lawyer’s Creed in 1989. Other speakers included current Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett and Judge Jennifer Elrod of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

This fall, the State Bar of Texas held public hearings in seven Texas cities to get input into whether Texas attorneys should be required to disclose to clients whether they carry professional liability insurance. Jonathan Smaby, Executive Director of the Center, oversaw the hearings in San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas, Lubbock and Austin. In January, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors recommended to the Texas Supreme Court that Texas attorneys not be required to disclose whether they have professional liability insurance by a 39-1 vote. For more information, go to the Texas Bar Blog

The Texas Supreme Court recently issued proposed changes to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information, go to the Texas Supreme Court web site:   Proposed Amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Brief Background and Explanation     REDLINED VERSION OF AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN MISC. DOCKET NO. 09-9175