Executive Director’s Page
Following Our Mission
The lawsuit challenging the mandatory bar in Texas reached a key
moment on August 1 as both sides presented their cases for summary
judgment inside an Austin federal district courtroom.
As I explained in my May column, three plaintiffs are claiming that
under Janus v. AFSCME (2018), it is unconstitutional for an
attorney to be required to join the State Bar of Texas to practice law.
The plaintiffs also challenge certain bar programs that they claim
exceed the bar’s “core regulatory functions.”
The State Bar argues that binding U.S. Supreme Court
precedent—Lathrop v. Donohue (1961) and Keller v. State Bar
of California (1990)—forecloses the plaintiffs’ challenge to
membership. The bar also argues that the plaintiffs’ challenge to
specific programs fails because all bar expenditures are consistent with
Keller as they relate to regulating the legal profession and
improving the quality of legal services.
We remain confident in our case as we await the judge’s decision. In the
meantime, the State Bar continues to fulfill its statutory and
constitutional obligations. I invite you to go to texasbar.com/mcdonaldvsorrels
for case updates and to read the filings.
Honoring 50-Year Lawyers
Last month I briefly mentioned our 50-year lawyer celebration at the
2019 State Bar Annual Meeting, but I want to elaborate on this special
event. At the general session luncheon, we recognized 655 lawyers who
achieved their 50-year milestone as practicing attorneys in Texas.
Ninety of these lawyers appeared at the reception and luncheon honoring
them. This was a record in both the number of lawyers reaching the
milestone and in those attending the luncheon.
We set up a room for the lawyers and their families to meet, renew old
acquaintances, and share stories of their respective journeys. They
gathered immediately before the luncheon for a group photo. They were
then recognized during the luncheon, with each lawyer being called by
name and asked to stand.
As a son and a nephew of 50-year Texas lawyers, I know what an
accomplishment this is and how much it means to these lawyers and their
families to be recognized for their contributions to our profession.
Once again, I extend my congratulations to these 50-year lawyers. For
coverage of this and other Annual Meeting events, see Page
586.
Celebrate Freedom
Week
Part of the State Bar’s mission is to educate the public about the
rule of law. This month, Texas schools will observe Celebrate Freedom
Week, which includes Constitution Day (September 17), and our Law
Related Education department has developed a number of resources to
assist them. These videos, games, and quizzes—available at texaslre.org—are designed to help
students learn and prepare for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills,
or TEKS, assessments in eigth grade American history and high school
U.S. history. Texas lawyers can be proud of the role the State Bar plays
in providing civics education to our country’s future leaders.
Sincerely,
Trey Apffel
Executive Director, State Bar of Texas
Editor-in-Chief, Texas Bar Journal
(512) 427-1500
@ApffelT on Twitter
GOVERNANCE INFORMATION
The
State Bar of Texas Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting
September 20 in Corpus Christi. Any member of the bar or the public is
welcome to attend. The agenda and meeting materials will be posted to texasbar.com/board
at least seven days before the meeting. As usual, the State Bar will
host a free CLE program the week of the board meeting in the meeting’s
host city. The program, Updates for Solo Practitioners and Small Firms,
will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. September 18 at the Holiday Inn
Corpus Christi Downtown Marina. Go to texasbarcle.com to
register for the free CLE.
Have a question for Trey? Email
it to trey.apffel@texasbar.com and
he may answer it in a future column.
