by Carol Sims | Feb 1, 2017 | Cases in the News
Source: SETexasRecord Author: David Yates, Jan 31, 6:21 PM AUSTIN – A documentary filmmaker seeking to obtain the deposition of one of Texas’ most well-known plaintiff’s attorneys was shut down by a district judge Tuesday, as the court refused to unseal testimony linked to an asbestos memo that has been the subject of much controversy for the past two decades. In November, freelance journalist Christine Biederman intervened in a 24-year old asbestos suit filed in Travis County, seeking to unseal the deposition of trial lawyer Russell Budd, president of Baron & Budd — a Dallas-based law firm specializing in toxic torts. While the Baron & Budd case has been cleared off the court’s docket for more than a decade, Biederman believes Budd’s deposition, which is presumably centered on the “Terrell memo,” has relevancy to current asbestos litigation and would eventually play a role in the documentary she is helping to produce. The Terrell memo, considered by some to be a “cheat sheet,” purportedly reveals how Baron & Budd attorneys coached up clients on how to identify asbestos products and exposures that they might not actually remember and might never have been exposed to in the first place. Those seeking to produce the asbestos litigation documentary sought to videotape the hearing to unseal. However, Budd’s counsel objected and the judge refused to allow media to use any digital recording methods. Much of the hearing centered on whether the deposition was an actual court record and properly sealed under Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The rule states that a document may be sealed if the substantial interest...
by Carol Sims | Oct 25, 2016 | Post
Early voting is underway! Judicial races are “down ballot.” What this means is that they are typically at the end of a very long list of items needing voters’ attention. The Texas Civil Justice League is reminding Texans that ballot fatigue is bad for our state — we are urging voters to become educated and to vote all the way through their ballots. Join us and help your circle of influence understand that: Judges are important. They have a direct impact on citizens, perhaps more than any other elected official, because they make decisions that can affect jobs, homes, children and personal freedoms. Voters must take the responsibility to educate themselves about judicial candidates. And they must vote! Turnout is important, for both the primaries and the general election. Texans need to elect judges who are fair, impartial and well It’s easy to run as a single-issue candidate, but judges with activist agendas are not good for Texas. Learn about the people on your ballot and vote for the ones who will do a great job for our state. The Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL) is launching a statewide voter education effort to increase awareness about the importance of electing —and re-electing — qualified judges. We need your help. As Texans, we get to elect our judges. That’s a big responsibility. Help us urge people to do their homework, to go to the polls, and to vote for good people who will make great judges. See Profiles and Comparisons of Texas appellate judicial candidates here: https://texasjudges.org/compare/ ....
by Carol Sims | Oct 14, 2016 | Publications
The 30th Anniversary Fall 2016 Texas Civil Justice League Journal is out today and available just in time for the 2016 General Election. The TCJL Journal contains important information about many civil justice issues Texas faces as we head into the November General Election and the 85th Texas Legislature. Inside, you’ll find articles related to state-level judicial races all across the state. Here’s a direct link to the TCJL Fall 2016 Journal, so download your free copy...
by Carol Sims | Sep 23, 2016 | Judicial Appointments
Source: http://gov.texas.gov/news/appointment/22656 Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Alejandro “Alex” Cestero and Scott Salmans and reappointed Bill Strawn to the Judicial Compensation Commission for terms set to expire February 1, 2021. Strawn will continue serving as chair. The commission recommends the proper salaries to be paid by the state for all justices and judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts Of Appeals, and state district courts. Alejandro “Alex” Cestero of Houston is senior vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for Frank’s International N.V. He is a board member of the Texas Lyceum, board member and president of The General Counsel Forum – Houston Chapter and an advisory board member and executive committee member of the Institute for Energy Law. Additionally, he is a corporate member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, member and past chairman of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel America, International Association of Drilling Contractors and the International, American and Houston Bar Associations. Cestero received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish/Latin American Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. Scott Salmans of McGregor is owner and CEO of WRS Group Ltd. He is a member and forum officer of the Young Presidents Organization and a member of the Waco Industrial Foundation Board, Baylor University Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board and the Waco Business League. Additionally, he is former president of the Baylor Waco Foundation and a member and former board member of the Greater Waco...
by Carol Sims | Jun 17, 2016 | Judicial Appointments
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Phil Grant of Montgomery as judge of the 9th Judicial District Court in Montgomery County for a term set to expire at the next general election in November 2016. Phil Grant is first assistant district attorney for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and is the supervisor for the Public Integrity Unit and Major Crimes and Police Integrity Response teams. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Guardianship Certification Board and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Additionally, he is a board member of the Conroe Noon Lions Club, past president and past board member of Children’s Safe Harbor and past president of the Houston Athletic Association for the Disabled. Grant received a Bachelor of Arts in business and economics from the Virginia Military Institute and a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law. Source:...
