BREAKOUT SESSIONS 1:30 PM -3:00 PM Attorneys attending a breakout session marked * are eligible for 1.5 hours CLE. Sessions 1-7 will be held in the Gregg County Courthouse and sessions 8-10 will be held at LeTourneau University. All sessions are free of charge.
1.* - Trial Court Judges- "Pitfalls That Occasion Appeals Based On Trial Court Errors"(Chief Justice Nathan Hecht). Chief Justice Hecht will present an update to the attendees about the Supreme Court and offer examples of trial court errors that lead to cases being appealed and suggestions about how to avoid those pitfalls. Followed by Q&A from the attendees and feedback from the attendees to Chief Justice Hecht about how the Supreme Court could help the trial courts do their work more efficiently. Session open only to trial court judges. To be held in Judge Alfonso Charles' courtroom. Fourth floor Gregg County Courthouse (124th District Court). Capacity- 96. Approved for 1.5 hours CLE credit by the State Bar of Texas.
2.* - Appellate Court Justices- "The Interface Between The Supreme Court And The Intermediate Courts"(Justice Phil Johnson). Justice Johnson will briefly update attendees on recent changes at the Supreme Court impacting the Appellate Courts. Q&A to follow, with attendees encouraged to air any thoughts about how the Supreme Court might better interface with the lower courts. Session open only to Court of Appeals Justices. To be held in Judge Tim Womack's courtroom. Fourth floor, Gregg County Courthouse. Capacity 50. Approved for 1.5 hours CLE credit by the State Bar of Texas.
3.* - Appellate Attorneys- "How To Brief And Argue Most Effectively For Your Client" (Justice Eva Guzman). Justice Guzman will discuss recent changes in civil appellate law. She will also talk about how to prepare an appellate brief and how to present an oral argument - the do's and don'ts. Q&A Session open to practicing attorneys. To be held in Judge Vincent Dulweber's courtroom (Gregg County Court at Law # 2). Third floor Gregg County Courthouse. Capacity 76. Approved for 1.5 hours CLE credit by the State Bar of Texas.
4.* - Family Law Attorneys- "Family Law and Appellate Review"(Justice Debra Lehrmann). Justice Lehrmann will present an update on family law issues, including a discussion of family law cases the Texas Supreme Court has recently decided. Effective techniques for persuading the Court to grant petitions for review will also be presented. Q&A. To be held in Gregg County Commissioner's courtroom. Third floor Gregg County Courthouse. Capacity 68. Approved for 1.5 hours CLE credit by the State Bar of Texas.
5.* - Practicing Attorneys- "A Scout is Trustworthy: Applying Virtue and Ethics to Lawyer Professionalism"(Justice Jeff Brown). The thesis is that the 12 points of the Boy Scout Law are the only ethical guide any lawyer really needs. To be held in Judge David Brabham's courtroom (188th District Court). Fourth floor, Gregg County Courthouse. capacity 174. Approved for 1.5 hours of CLE- ETHICS by the State Bar of Texas.
6.* - Practicing Attorneys- "Issues In Tort Law- Recent Decisions and Trial Court Errors That Lead To Appeals"(Justice Paul Green). Justice Green will give brief overview of recent rule changes affecting attorneys and discuss some recent court decisions involving torts. Will also discuss how a trial attorney can avoid errors that lead to the long and expensive road to the Texas Supreme Court, or preserve error to make taking that road possible. Q&A and feedback from attendees. Session open to practicing attorneys to be held in Judge Becky Simpson's courtroom (Gregg County Court at Law #1). Fourth floor, Gregg County Courthouse. Capacity 114. Approved for 1.5 hours of CLE by the State Bar of Texas.
7.* - Trial And Appellate Court Staff- "Why We Want The I Dotted That Way And The T Crossed This Way" (Blake A. Hawthorne, Clerk of the Texas Supreme Court). Mr. Hawthorne will discuss recent changes promulgated by the Supreme Court, the Office of Court Administration and the Legislature that impact their jobs. Q&A session to have give and take to make sure that everything possible be done to make the system more efficient and accurate. Session open to court clerks and staff. To be held in Judge Bill Stoudt's courtroom. Third floor, Gregg County Courthouse. Capacity 70.
8. - High School Students- "About The Law, Our Courts And Law As A Career"(Justice John Devine). Amphitheater in Education Building (approximate seating capacity 200+). Justice Devine will present a brief overview of our court system, the Texas Supreme Court, briefly discuss a couple of recent decisions and then discuss the law as a profession, outlining the various areas of law, suggested college courses to take, and the legal education system in Texas. Q&A.
9. - College Students- "About The Law, The Court System And Law As A Career"(Justice Don Willett). Belcher Center Green Room (approx. capacity 100). Justice Willett will present a brief overview of our court system, the Texas Supreme Court, briefly discuss a couple of recent decisions and then discuss the law as a profession, outlining the various areas of law. Discuss the LSAT, interviews, etc (the process of getting into law school). Does it matter what college courses you take? A brief overview of the law schools in Texas, acceptance rates, tuition, tuition assistance. Q&A.
10.* - General Public, Attorneys and Students- "God, The Courts And The Law" (Justice Jeff Boyd). Justice Boyd, who is also an ordained minister, will discuss the legal system and its interface with religious principles, the separation of church and state and what that means, and the role of faith in a judge’s decision making. Justice Boyd will take questions from the audience. Session to be live webcast by Longview News Journal. Open to all. Belcher Center auditorium, LeTourneau University. Capacity 2000.