The Board of Directors for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association met on Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Houston. The following motions were addressed:
MOTION: Motion to approve minutes from January 11, 2014, TCDLA Board Meeting in Lubbock. Motion made by Michael Gross, seconded by Sarah Roland—motion carries.
MOTION: Motion to approve the TCDLA FY 2013 Audit report presented by Archie Montemayor. Motion made by David Moore, seconded by John Convery—motion carries.
MOTION: Motion to authorize the President to request an opinion from the CCA on whether an association can file a complaint against a prosecutor. Motion made by Stan Schneider—motion fails due to lack of second.
MOTION: Motion to approve the TCDLA 2014 Percy Foreman Lawyers of the Year inductees, Keith Hampton and Michael Ware. Motion made by Robb Fickman, seconded by Susan Anderson—motion carries.
MOTION: Motion to remove the Lone Star DWI: Blood 101 CLE scheduled for Austin from the July date and add as a second day to the Stuart Kinard Memorial Advanced DWI CLE in San Antonio. Also have leadership appoint four members from TCDLA and four members from NCDD to negotiate MSE. Motion made by Grant Scheiner, seconded by Bennie Ray—3 for, motion fails.
MOTION: To have a joint panel, appointing four members from TCDLA and members from NCDD to negotiate MSE and have a decision made by March 31, 2014. Motion made by Grant Scheiner, seconded by Susan Anderson—2 for, motion fails.
MOTION to adjourn at 12:58 pm. Motion made by Bobby Mims, seconded by Mark Snodgrass—motion carries.
Special thanks to Bradley Hargis, President of Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (ACDLA), for allowing TCDLA to co-sponsor ACDLA’s ALR Seminar held in Austin in February. Thanks to ACDLA’s efforts they had 81 attendees.
Special thanks to Stephanie Stevens in San Antonio for the Criminal 101 seminar held at St. Mary’s University.
Special thanks to Robb Fickman (Houston) and Mark Bennett (Houston), our course directors for our Federal Law seminar held in Houston in March. Thanks to their efforts we had 31 attendees.
Special thanks to Kameron Johnson (Austin), our course director for our Juvenile Law seminar held in Houston in March. Thanks to his efforts we had 41 attendees.
Special thanks to Nicole DeBorde (Houston), our course director for our Drug seminar held in Houston in March. Thanks to her efforts we had 58 attendees.
Special thanks to Peter Gerstenzang, Dean of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), for allowing TCDLA to co-sponsor for the 10th year, their 21st Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI/DWI Cases seminar held in New Orleans in March. Special thanks to Troy McKinney (Houston), Doug Murphy (Houston), Gary Trichter (Bandera), and Mimi Coffey (Fort Worth), our course directors. Thanks to their efforts we had 224 attendees.
Very special thanks to Lydia Clay-Jackson (Conroe), Dean of Students, and Tim Evans (Fort Worth), Dean of Faculty, for our 38th Annual Texas Criminal Trial College held in Huntsville in March. Thanks to their efforts we had a very successful college this year. This year’s college brought together 80 lawyers and 41 faculty for a 6-day focused training on trial skills.
We thank Dean of Students John Tarabeck of Sam Houston State University for his support of the college and Ms. Ann Broussard, who provides extraordinary support throughout the college. We thank A. K. Khan, General Manager of the University Hotel, who ensures the best accommodations for all of the lawyers. We also thank the Sam Houston University drama department for providing the actors to enhance the real-life courtroom experience for the lawyers. Finally, we thank the board of Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Educational Institute for providing the Hostility (Hospitality) Suite refreshments. The college was funded by our grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
A list of the graduates of this year’s college is on page 16 of this issue of the Voice. We would ask our members to review the list and make it a point to congratulate these lawyers.
Special thanks to Stan Schwieger (Waco) and Michael Gross (San Antonio), our course directors for the Trial Strategies seminar held in Waco in April. Thanks to their efforts we had 91 attendees.
Special thanks to James Makin (Beaumont) and Kelly Pace (Tyler), our course directors for the Trial Strategies seminar held in Beaumont in April. Thanks to their efforts we had 27 attendees.
Special thanks to Rebecca Simmons, President of the San Antonio Bar Association (SABA), Jorge Aristotelidis, President of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (SACDLA), for allowing TCDLA/CDLP to help co-sponsor the 51st Annual AA Semaan Advanced Criminal Law Seminar held in San Antonio in March.
Thanks to Mark Stevens, John Convery, and Robert Price (all of San Antonio), our course directors for the seminar. Special thanks to Jimmy Ellison, Executive Director for SABA, for his support. Thanks to everyone’s efforts we had 286 attendees.
Special thanks to co-sponsors the Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc., the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Project for the Earl Carl Institute’s 1st Annual Child Welfare Forensics Conference held in Houston in March. Thanks to everyone’s efforts we had 85 attendees.
The 27th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course is rapidly approaching. The hotel cutoff is May 20 or until block is filled. Please pre-register at our TCDLA website and make your hotel reservations as early as possible. A fun bike ride will be part of the healthy lifestyle options that will be available.
Please help us get the word out on the 18th Annual TCDLA Golf Tournament to be held on Thursday, June 12, at the beautiful course in Silverhorn Club. Prizes are awarded for the top three teams. Registration fee includes lunch at 11:30 am. Shotgun start at 12:00 pm.
TCDLA Board of Directors invites you to attend the 43rd Annual TCDLA Members Meeting on Saturday, June 14, 2014, immediately following the adjournment of the 27th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course. This should be approximately at 11:30 am in Ballroom B of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
Please go to the TCDLA website for more information or call the Home Office (512)478-2514.
Are you interested in forming a local criminal defense bar? Need help getting organized? Please contact Susan Anderson (Dallas), , or Ray Rodriguez (Laredo), , Co-Chairs of the TCDLA Affiliate Committee.
Good verdicts to all.
