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Volume 17 Issue 6
The Advocate
Smith County Bar
2014-2015 Association
President Tom Gibson
VP/ President-elect Ron Stutes Secretary
Amy Ames Treasurer
Greg Kimmel Directors 2013-15
Faye Comte Nathaniel Moran Danny Noteware Directors 2013-15
Reagan Butts W. Bryan Campbell
Jennifer McCollough Leigh Porter
Marisa Schouten Andy Stinson Foundation
President Jim Huggler
VP/ President-elect John F. Berry
Secretary Andy Tindel
Treasurer Daniel Montgomery, CPA
Directors 2012-15 Rick Allen, CPA
Jill Hossley Laura Jackson
Hon. Christi Kennedy Joey Seeber
Directors 2013-16 Ralph E. Allen Dawn Franks
James W. Knowles Honorable John Love Dr. Howard Patterson
Nancy Rangel Randell C. Roberts Directors 2013-16 Andrew Adams
Dana Bias Jeremy Coe
Shannon Dacus H. Michael Gross
Deborah Race
President’s
Letter
December 2014
Dear SCB Association Members,
As I write this column it is only two days before Thanksgiving. While you will be reading this after Thanksgiv-ing, I believe that it is still important to note this important part of the holi-day season. According to the Na-tional Archives, "On September 28, 1789, just before leaving for recess, the first Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend to the nation a day of thanksgiving. A few days later, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanks-givin" - the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Con-stitution." Of course, this celebration later turned into a national annual commemoration. I am thankful for
the blessings of liberty, the blessings of working with a local bar associa-tion full of lawyers and legal staff committed to practicing law with excellence, and the blessings of family.
As we approach the height of the holiday season, please remember our upcoming Christmas Extrava-ganza (see the announcement below and pages 2-3 for more information), and take time to share the season with your friends and colleagues. A special thanks to Marisa Schouten for her tireless work in planning the party, as well as the Martin Walker law firm for hosting the party.
Tom Gibson SCBA President 2014-15
New for the 2014 Holiday Extravaganza
5:00 Live Music: The Diamond Kings
8:00 Live Rock & Roll Music:
The Effinays
Bring your dancing shoes, your guest and
your staff for an evening of good cheer!
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 2 THE ADVOCATE
Thanks to our host
Martin Walker PC
And to these generous sponsors
Sinclair Law Office PC Findlay Craft PC
Flowers Davis, PLLC Garcia, Dubove & Trujillo, PC
White Shaver PC Collen Clark– The Clark Firm
Ramey & Flock, PC Michael K. Hogan PC Richard Grainger PC
Mike Patterson Mediation Honorable Christi J. Kennedy
Blake H. Bailey
Bain, Files, Jarrett, Bain & Harrison, PC Potter Minton PC
Grant & Flanery, PC
Michael Gross/Bluebonnet Partners PC Honorable Kerry L. Russell
Wilson, Robertson & Cornelius PC Frank H. Moore, Mediations
Anonymous Bobby D. Mims
Shelton Family Law, PLLC
Law Offices of Woodrow M. Roark, PC Derryberry Zips Wade Lawhorn, PLLC
Travis L. Booher Citizens 1st Bank
Law Offices of R. Kelly Pace, PC Dr. Charles W. Alworth
Dwight A. Brannon Karen G. Hughes
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 3 THE ADVOCATE
The Officers and Directors of the
Smith County Bar Association
And the
Smith County Young Lawyers
Invite you, your guest and staff to the annual
Holiday Extravaganza Friday, December 5
5:00 til?
Hosted by the
Martin Walker Law Firm
121 North Spring Avenue
At the restored, historic Arcadia Theatre
Catering by Villa Montez
Complimentary Spirits
Live music by The Effinays
THE party and not to be missed event of the year!
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 4 THE ADVOCATE
PAGE 5 THE ADVOCATE VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6
SCBA Attorney Spotlight
This section is dedicated to introducing and showcasing young lawyers or lawyers that are new to the SCBA. If you would like to nominate someone for the “SCBA Spotlight” please contact Cristy at [email protected]
Jane Gerber
We’re excited to direct the SCBA attorney spotlight upon Jane Gerber, Law Clerk for the Honorable Bill Parker at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Jane was born and raised in Dallas. She attended undergrad at Welles-ley College in Massachusetts, where she received a B.A. degree in Latin and Classical Civilizations. After working in Denver, Colorado, she returned to Dallas. In 2006, she began working for Behringer Harvard, an investment firm specializing in commercial real estate. From 2006 to 2011 she moved up the ladder at Behringer from a
Marketing Specialist, to Due Diligence Associate, to Due Diligence Manager. Then in 2011, she decided to pursue a legal career, and began law school at Washington University Law School in St. Louis. While in law school, Jane served as the Managing Editor for the Global Studies Law Review. During the summer of her 1L year, she obtained a clerkship with the Chief Judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas, located in Plano. She also interned with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commis-sion’s Division of Investment Management in D.C. and Division of Enforcement in Fort Worth, through their Summer Honors Program in 2013. Jane received her J.D. from Washington University in May 2014, and sat for the July Bar Exam—which she recently learned she passed! In September, Jane began a two-year clerkship with Judge Parker in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the East-ern District of Texas. In her spare time (to the extent it exists), she likes to travel, watch movies, and read. Please join us in welcoming Jane to Tyler!
Law Clerk to Hon. Bill Parker U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas 110 N. College Ave., Suite 900 Tyler, Texas 75702 903-590-3242
Indigent Defense Counsel List
Calling all attorneys presently on or interested in being on the Indigent Defense Counsel list: Please allow this to serve as a reminder to those presently on the list that you are required to:
1) Submit verification annually that you are in compliance with the CLE requirements in order to continue to re-
ceive misdemeanor appointments. It is mandatory that you successfully complete a minimum of six (6) hours of training in State Bar of Texas and/or Smith County Council of Judges approved training in criminal law,
ethics, evidence or trial practice. Please see the Annual Reporting Affidavit on the Smith County Bar Website (www.smithcountybar.com); and
2) All counsel must also submit a new Appointment Application each year as well.
The Appointment Application is also on the Smith County Bar Website (www.smithcountybar.com); It is essential that you submit a new application and proof of compliance on or before December 15, 2014 in order
to avoid suspension from or to be considered for placement on the Misdemeanor Court Appointment list.
If you have questions, please contact Laurita Vodak at 903-590-1690 or email [email protected].
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 6 THE ADVOCATE
The Smith County
Young Lawyers Association
would like to thank the
following 2014-2015
Adoption Day Sponsors:
Anonymous
Bain, Files, Jarrett, Bain & Harrison, P.C.
Beard & Harris, P.C.
Bryan & Jill Campbell
Ireland, Carroll & Kelley, P.C.
Karen G. Hughes, Attorney-At-Law
Law Offices of Alicia Barkley, P.C.
Potter Minton, P.C.
Regions Bank
Smith County Bar Association
Smith County Bar Foundation
Tab & Bonnie Beall
The Dacus Firm
The Flowers Law Firm, P.C.
The Law Office of Toshia Brown
PAGE 7 THE ADVOCATE VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6
TAALP Legal Professional of the Year 2015
The Tyler Area Association of Legal Professionals is soliciting nominations for the 2015 Legal Professional of the Year Award.
This award is given annually to an individual who is a mem-ber of TAALP and is based on the nominee’s professional experience, professional development and community involvement. Nominees must be a member of TAALP.
The deadline for nominations is January 30, 2015 and the award will be presented at the Law Day Luncheon. Please contact Barbara Skeen at [email protected] for more information.
Our 2nd Annual Open House Thanksgiving was a success!
We had such a good time visiting with everyone. Thanks
so much to those of you who were able to attend. Check
out the pictures below. If you didn’t get to make it this
year, you really missed some good food, but hopefully we
will see you at next year’s open house!
2014
Law Library
Thanksgiving
Open House We at the library want to wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
It’s that time of the year when we look back and evaluate, look forward and speculate and for the present moment celebrate. As 2014 draws to a
close it is very apparent that it has been a great year for the Smith County Bar Foundation’s Volunteer Attorney Program! We are leaving a positive and encouraging mark on the Smith County community!
Looking back the program generated a sense of team work when 4 attorneys came together to assist a client. The client was overwhelmed by the dedica-tion of the team. At the 2nd annual Volunteer Attorney Appreciation Luncheon each attorney handling the case was recognized for their efforts and even the client shared with us how her life had been impacted by their generosity. They will always be remembered as the “Dream Team.”
This year also produced a new facet of the program. With an increased need for family law attorneys to handle complex divorce cases the Mentor & Train-ing project was created. By matching seasoned attorneys with attorneys handling cases outside their area of expertise more clients have been and will
continue to be assisted. The mentor database is growing in both attorneys and areas of expertise. We expect this project to thrive in the future.
As we celebrate the season of perpetual hope we also celebrate the attorneys that volunteer with the program. They provide hope to those unable to afford legal services. When they give of their time and expertise our community becomes a better place. Helping clients attain access to justice creates a positive impact with a rippling effect all over the county.
So as we are celebrating this time of year let’s also CELEBRATE PRO BONO!
Currently the following attorneys are providing hope
to clients:
Mary Kolder – Probate
Danny Noteware – Divorce
Joe Thigpen – Bankruptcy
If you would like to be a part of this outstanding team
please contact Carol Moylan at 903-330-3844 or
SCBF Volunteer Attorney Program
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 8 THE ADVOCATE
NEW!
Bring Your Own Lunch
CLE Seminars
Half day CLE with East Texas speakers
Save the Date
Civil Law CLE Thursday, January, 22, 2015 12:30 to 4:30 pm
The HUB, 305 E. Ferguson Ave. Speakers and topics are being developed.
If you have requests or ideas, please share them with the course directors
Rosemary Jones ([email protected]) or Ron Schoenbrun ([email protected])
Registration and more information available soon on SCBA web site at www.smithcountybar.com
Coming soon- April TBD Criminal Law
July TBD Ethics
The Smith County Bar Foundation Board is pleased to announce the Honorable Judith K Guthrie as the recipient of the 2015 Justinian Award.
The Justinian Award is given to an outstanding Smith County attorney for their community service, legal ethics and profes-sionalism. The attractive glass plaque is graciously provided by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism. The 2014 Justinian Award was presented to Jim Knowles.
The theme for the 2015 Law Day event will be “Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law”. As we mark the 800th anni-versary of Magna Carta, join us on Law Day to commemorate this “Great Charter of Liberties,” and rededicate ourselves to advancing the principle of rule of law here and abroad.
The 2015 Law Day Committee will meet at noon on Thurs-day, December 4 at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room. Lunch will not be provided, but you are wel-come to bring your own lunch. If you are interested in volun-teering for this annual event, please contact Law Day Chair Mike Patterson at 903 592-4433 or [email protected].
Honorable Judith K. Guthrie selected for 2015 Law Day Justinian Award
Java with the Judges Please join us for coffee with the
Texas 12th Court of Appeals
Honorable Jim Worthen Honorable Brian Hoyle and
Honorable Sam Griffith
Thursday, January 8, 2015 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Law Firm of Martin Walker 121 North Spring Avenue
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 9 THE ADVOCATE
Smith County Bar Foundation
Charter Fellows
Tab Beall
Alan Brown
John Bufe
Glenn Collins
(1937 – 2014)
Tracy Crawford
Stephen Dement
Earl Drott
Jack Flock
(1913-2007)
John E. “Ric” Freeman
William S. Hommel, Jr.
Michael Jones
Rosemary Jones
David A. Lake
Jim L. Lambeth
Dale Long
Richard Lottmann
John Minton
Mike Patterson
Hon. Tom B. Ramey, Jr.
Hon. Kerry L. Russell
Mike Starr
Hon. William M. Steger
(1920 – 2006)
Ron Vickery
Hon. James T. Worthen
In Memory of Hon. John Hannah, Jr.
Life Patron Fellows Mike McNally and Mike Patterson
Sustaining Life Fellows Tab Beall, John Bufe, Otis Carroll,
M. Keith Dollahite, and Randi Russell
Life Fellows Thomas ‘Mick’ Alleman, John F. Berry,
Hon. Joe Clayton, Michael C. Coker, Russell W. Cooper, Patricia Coplan, Celia C. Flowers,
Richard Grainger, Michael Gross, H. Kelly Ireland, James W. Knowles, Joel A. Lake, Gary Landers,
Collin Maloney, Jason R. Mills, R. Kelly Pace, Deborah Race, Woodrow M. Roark,
Randall L. Roberts, Martin Z. Sammons, Melvin R. Wilcox III, and
In memory of Walker Weathers
Fellows Craig S. Adams, Ralph E. Allen, Rick Allen, Amy Ames,
Roger W. Anderson, Cristy Arscott, Bruce Bain, Jerry Bain, Hon. Bill Bass, H. Chuck Bauman, Lindsey Birdsong,
Alan E. Brown, Tom Brown, Tina Brumbelow, Hal B. Cameron, Jr., Bradley S. Campbell, Bryan Campbell, James A. Carter, Charles Clark, Jeremy Coe, Randy Cook,
William Cornelius, Brian Craft, Deron Dacus, Shannon Dacus, Hon. Leonard Davis, Robert S. Davis, Hon. Diane V. DeVasto,
Jeff Embry, Renna Embry, Kevin L. Ferrier, Buck Files, Eric Findlay, Ken Findley, Hon. Sam Griffith,
Hon. Judith Guthrie, Brett Harrison, Lucy Hebron, Mike Hogan, Allen Hossley, Jill Hossley, Ronnie Horsley, Hon. Brian Hoyle, David Hudson, Jim Huggler, Leigh Hunt,
Reeve Jackson, Alan Jackson, Clint James, Michael Jarrett, Rosemary Jones, Hon. Christi Kennedy, Pete Kerr, Jill Kotvis,
David Lake, Hon. John Love, Peter Milne, Gordon Mosley, Mandy Carroll Nelson, Hon. Bill Parker, Richard Patteson,
John G. Payne, Greg Porter, Brent Ratekin, Scott A. Ritcheson, Bruce Roberts, Randell C. Roberts, Sharon Fisher Roberts, Jim. Robertson, Joey Seeber,
William Shelton, Tim Simpson, Hon. Jack Skeen, Greg Smith, Jim Van Deventer, Lance Vincent, VaLita Waits, Clay White, Robert H. Wilson, Hon. James T. Worthen, Trey Yarbrough,
and Ruth H. Yeager.
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 PAGE 10 THE ADVOCATE
Providing professional development, education and service programs for the legal profession.
Revised 10-24-07
Employment
The Tyler Area Association of Legal Professional’s Job Bank is a free service for members. If you have a position open in your firm, (e.g. receptionist, legal secretary, legal
assistant or office manager), please contact:
Sharon Sherrill, CLA Ireland, Carroll & Kelley, P.C. 6101 S. Broadway, Suite 500, Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 561-1600 or [email protected]
Membership is not required to post a job opening with TAALP.
Published monthly by the Smith County Bar Association
P.O. Box 7248, Tyler, TX 75711-7248
903 526-2700 or email: [email protected]
Web site: www.smithcountybar.com
Notice- The Smith County
Courthouse will be closed on
Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday, December 24-26, 2014
for Christmas and Thursday, January 1,
2015 for New Years Day.
You are cordially invited to a public swearing-in
ceremony of
Jason A. Ellis as Judge of Smith County
County Court at Law
Thursday, January 1, 2015
2:00 pm
Smith County Courthouse
100 North Broadway Ave. Tyler, Texas