COMMENTS JULY AUGUST 2022

Tell us what you think via @statebaroftexas, tbj@texasbar.com, or P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX 78711-2487. Letters addressed to the Texas Bar Journal may be edited for clarity and length and become the property of the magazine, which owns all rights to their use.

OPINION: “MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS,” MAY 2022, P. 336
Hannah Cramer’s article, “Making Accommodations,” in the May Bar Journal really touched me. I too have digestive issues, and I had surgery for severe diverticulitis in 2010 at the age of 51. I did not have to have a temporary or permanent bag after the surgery. I had a wonderful surgeon, and I thank God for him every day. So my situation is not as severe as Hannah Cramer’s and I was older than she was when I had my surgery but I do have to watch what I eat, especially the day before and the day of a mediation, hearing, or trial.

Hannah Cramer stated in her article that she emailed a request for a bathroom accommodation to the court and to opposing counsel and did not receive a response. That broke my heart. This young lady has more years to practice law than I do, and I hope that the State Bar will promote a sense of humanity and compassion in the profession. We are advocates for our clients, but we should never lose our sense of humanity. We were human beings before we became attorneys and we are still human beings.

Elizabeth Phillips
Houston