5th District Court of Appeals to Hear Oral Arguments Before Symposium Begins
Austin College will host the 2018 Dr. Kenneth Street Law Symposium, titled “The Path to Justice: Guidance from the Trenches” on Monday, February 12. Lawyers, students, and others interested in the law profession are welcome to attend discussion of timely issues in law and ethics.
Prior to the symposium’s start, Chief Justice Carolyn Wright of the 5th District Court of Appeals will provide an overview of the Texas Appellate Court System, beginning at 10 a.m. in Ida Green Theatre of the College’s Ida Green Communication Center. Individuals interested in hearing the court presentation should arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. for security check in. No large bags or briefcases will be allowed in the theatre. Following the overview, the court will hear oral arguments in the case of Electric Reliability Council of Texas v. Panda Power Generation Infrastructure Fund, LLC D/B/A Panda Power Funds, et al. There is no charge for attending the oral argument before the Court of Appeals.
The symposium will get underway following the oral arguments, with sessions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Symposium registration is $50 for lawyers, $15 for members of the Grayson County Bar Association, $20 for the general public, and no charge to students and faculty. The State Bar of Texas has approved 4.5 hours CLE (0.75 hours, ethics). Registration deadline is February 9; complete details and registration are available online. (link bold text to www.austincollege.edu/lawsymposium)
Following the first session, Tom Vick, president of the State Bar of Texas and an Austin College 1977 graduate, will give the keynote address, “President’s Update,” at a luncheon in Wright Campus Center’s Mabee Hall at 12:15 p.m.
The symposium agenda includes three panel discussions; the first titled “The Trial Lawyers” will be moderated by Matt Kyle of The Kyle Law Firm. Panel members are Kevin Spencer of Spencer Law PC; Mike Price of Milner Finn Price; and Regina Shattles of Frank R. Rivas & Associates. The first panel will be held in Ida Green Theatre.
The second panel titled “The Appellate Courts: Brief Writing” is moderated by Steve Hayes of the Law Office of Steven K. Hayes and begins at 2 p.m. in Sherman Hall’s Hoxie Thompson Auditorium. Panel members are Justice Elizabeth Lang-Miers; Justice Craig Stoddart; Justice Jason Boatright; and Ms. Cliffie J. Wesson, General Counsel of the Court of Appeals, Fifth District of Texas.
The final panel, “The Trial Judges: The Judges’ Perspective on Practice in the Trial Courts,” begins at 3 p.m. in Hoxie Thompson and is moderated by Elvin Smith of the Law Offices of Elvin E. Smith III PLLC. Panel members are Judge Amos L. Mazzant III, Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division; Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson, Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division; Judge Brian Gary, 397th District Court, Grayson County, and Judge Jill Willis, 429th District Court, Collin County.
The event honors longtime Austin College faculty member Dr. Kenneth W. Street, who died in December 2017. A revered professor of political science at Austin College from 1959 to 1997, Dr. Street held the John D. Moseley Chair of Government and Public Policy and founded and directed the Social Science Laboratory. An award-winning teacher, he also served many years as the advisor for students considering careers in law and launched many professionals in the field. A memorial service for Dr. Street will begin at 4 p.m. in Wynne Chapel, followed by a reception in Collins Alumni Center on Grand Avenue.
The Law Symposium is organized by the Alumni “L” Law Association and Austin College Pre-Law Society, under the direction of Dr. Frank Rohmer, associate professor of political science and John D. Moseley Chair of Government and Public Policy. The 2018 symposium sponsors include Austin College’s Pre-Law Society; Hatton W. Sumners Foundation; Grayson County Bar Association; Victor Gutierrez de Pineres; Frank McStay; Kevin White; Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP; Hunton & Williams LLP; Thompson & Knight LLP; GravesDougherty Hearon & Moody PC; Hutcheson Bowers LLP; The LeCrone Law Firm PC; Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith LLP; Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas; Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas; and Austin College Student Assembly.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.