Hurricane Relief Efforts - Texas and Louisiana
This page serves as a resource clearinghouse for
survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
and attorneys displaced by the storms. Those needing legal help should call
the State Bar of Texas legal disaster hotline at 800-504-7030.
Displaced attorneys in need of assistance should click
here to email the State Bar, or contact their local bar association.
If you have ideas or would like to suggest additional resources, click here to email us. |
Disaster Planning for Lawyers
The State Bar of Texas Disaster Response Task Force has prepared
a pamphlet on Disaster Planning for Lawyers. Read
it here (pdf format).
Houston Lawyers Empower Displaced Voters
The Houston Lawyers Association, NAACP, and other groups
have opened a Voter Empowerment Center where displaced New Orleans voters
can go to learn about their right to vote in the April 22 and May 20 municipal
elections. Click
here for details (pdf)
A Video Message from Justice Harriet O'Neill
 Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet
O'Neill, on behalf of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, appears
in a 3-minute video encouraging lawyers to volunteer their legal expertise
on behalf of hurricane victims.
Choose your connection speed to view the video(WMV format): broadband
dial-up.
Click
here to volunteer.
Court Orders
Oct. 12, Judge James Mehaffy of the 58th District
Court of Jefferson County signed this
order regarding closure of the clerk's office, enlarging time,
and extending deadlines.
On Oct. 11, the Texas Supreme Court amended its
previous order regarding displaced attorneys to include certain legal services
providers. Click
here for the amended order and registration form.
On Oct. 10, the Louisiana Supreme Court
issued an order permitting out of state lawyers not admitted to practice
in Louisiana to provide temporary emergency pro bono assistance in Louisiana
to persons residing in or located in Louisiana. Click
here for the order.
On Sept. 30, the Texas Supreme Court ordered an extension
of an emergency provision allowing attorneys who are now located in Texas
to practice law as though they were in their home states until May 31,
2006, if they registered with the State Bar of Texas by Nov. 7.
Click
here for the Court's Sept. 30 press release.
The Texas Supreme Court issued an order and per curiam
opinion late Monday, Sept. 26, providing for extending
deadlines because of courthouse closures and other effects from Hurricane
Rita. Click
here for the order and opinion (pdf).
Under emergency provisions to assist clients in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged
regions, the Texas Supreme Court ordered on Sept.
2 that Texas will permit lawyers from Louisiana, Mississippi,
or Alabama to temporarily practice law from Texas locations. Click
here for more information.
If you are a displaced lawyer email the State Bar Membership Department
at memmail@texasbar.com or call
800-204-2222, ext. 1383.
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