State Bar of Texas

July/August 2021 | Vol. 84, No. 7

Sylvia Borunda Firth takes office as president of the State Bar of Texas.

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Features

• In the Courtroom
  New Texas law school advocacy competition to debut this fall.
  Written by Eileen F. O’Neill

• OPINION
  Gaslighting
  Should it be recognized as a tort in Texas?
  Written by Carlos R. Soltero and Kayla Carrick Kelly

• OPINION
  The Business Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  Why it matters in the boardroom, the courtroom, and every room.
  Written by Sofia Adrogué

• Perspectives From Asian Judges
  A look at judgeship, the pandemic, and diversity.
  Written by Rehan Alimohammad and Jeff Leung

• Optimistic About the Future
  State Bar of Texas President Sylvia Borunda Firth on creating opportunities.
  Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico

• Ransomware
  Critical information you need to help better protect your practice and your clients from one of the most serious threats to our nation.
  Written by Shawn E. Tuma

• Using Intensifiers
  Is it literally a crime?
  Written by Wayne Schiess

• Priorities
  Choosing venue in the face of conflicting mandatory venue provisions.
  Written by Tracy C. Temple

• Committee Reports

• Section Reports

• Practicing Civility
  Texas Young Lawyers Association President Jeanine Novosad Rispoli on treating people with respect.
  Interview by Adam Faderewski

• Texas Supreme Court Order and Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas Order
  Order amending Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

• Texas Supreme Court Order
  Thirty-eighth emergency order regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster.

• Texas Supreme Court Order
  Final approval and adoption of amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.

• Texas Supreme Court Order
  Order adopting comment to Texas Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 3.

• Ethics Opinion 691

Departments

• Executive Director’s Page: Disciplinary Rule Updates Are a Win for Self-Governance
  Written by Trey Apffel

• In Recess: ‘Guitars are just wood and string and a bit of math’
  How Waco-based attorney Chris Harris builds his own sound.
  Interview by Eric Quitugua

• President’s Page: Take a R.I.D.E. With Me
  Written by Sylvia Borunda Firth

• Technology: Hash Values and the Fourth Amendment
  Do authorities need a search warrant to open and view files?
  Written by Pierre Grosdidier

• Ethics Question of the Month

• State Bar Director Spotlight: Santos Vargas
  Interview by Eric Quitugua

• TYLA President’s Page: Fostering Enduring Change
  Written by Jeanine Novosad Rispoli

• Solo/Small Firm: How to Take Advantage of Client Calls to Market Your Practice
  Tips to help you be organized and efficient.
  Written by Megan LaDriere

• Disciplinary Actions

• Movers and Shakers

• Memorials

• Classified Advertising

• Humor: Worst. Closing Arguments. Ever.
  Written by John G. Browning

• News From Around the Bar

• ATJ Pro Bono Champion: Dori Goldman and Chris Ward Get Involved.
  Interview by Eric Quitugua