Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson (pictured) will deliver his biennial State of the Judiciary address to a combined session of the Legislature on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 11:30 am. You can watch the address live through this link by choosing "Chamber Stream." Expect the forthcoming budget to be one of the Chief’s… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: February 2011
SCOTX Heading to the Valley
Posted in Appellate Practice, Oral ArgumentI am looking forward to attending the Hidalgo County Bar Association’s “An Evening with the Texas Supreme Court” event next Wednesday, March 2, at The Club at Cimarron in Mission, Texas. Through the efforts of HCBA President-Elect Brandy Wingate, Smith Law Group is among the firms helping to sponsor this event, which will include a… Continue Reading
Use of K-9 Units at Traffic Checkpoints
Posted in Appellate Practice, Opinions & JudgmentsLujan v. State, No. PD-0303-10, 2011 WL 93025 (Tex. Crim. App. Jan. 12, 2011). On petition for discretionary review, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals approved the use of K-9 units at a stationary traffic checkpoint implemented with the stated purpose of merely identifying unlicensed and uninsured drivers. Lujan was traveling through El Paso with… Continue Reading
Chief Justice Joe R. Greenhill, 1914-2011
Posted in Announcements, News & PoliticsThe Texas Supreme Court has announced the passing of former Chief Justice Joe R. Greenhill (pictured) at age 96. I suggest taking the time to read the Court’s advisory, which briefly traces Judge Greenhill’s remarkable legal career. Although Judge Greenhill had been off the bench many years by the time I clerked at the Supreme… Continue Reading
Upcoming Appellate CLE Opportunities
Posted in Appellate PracticeTexasBarCLE and the State Bar Appellate Section are co-sponsoring a new program called "Handling Your First Civil Appeal." The live session will take place here in Austin on February 18, 2011, and the program will be available via webcast. Smith Law Group’s own Brandy Wingate will be speaking about motions for rehearing in the courts… Continue Reading