Masters in Trial is sponsored by the ABOTA Foundation and presented to you by TEX-ABOTA and the Houston Chapter of ABOTA. Registration for this Masters in Trial is separate from SBOT registration.

Houston MIT 2012 Registration Form

Date:  Wednesdsay, June 13, 2012

Location:  Hilton Americas Houston

1600 Lamar

Houston, TX 77010

Benefits of Attending:
• Observe the “best of the best” trial lawyers, doing what they do best
• Hear direct and cross examinations of witnesses and experts, complete with courtroom visuals;
• See real-time jury deliberations, shown live on-screen in the seminar room

Scope and Purpose
Educating attorneys in the art of trial advocacy has been a primary goal of the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates since its inception. The Masters in Trial shows how experienced trial lawyers conduct a trial–without war stories. The mock trial demonstration is presented before a presiding judge and a real jury, complete with witnesses, experts and courtroom visuals. The jury will render a verdict in the case, with jury deliberations broadcast into the seminar room.

This products liability case involves a business owner who claims that exposure to artificial flavoring in his popcorn business caused severe lung damage. The plaintiff ’s team will address complex scientific and medical issues. The defense will claim contributory negligence and must address historical documents indicating knowledge of risk. The skills you will see demonstrated are applicable to virtually every other civil case. This is a program that will be of value to attorneys who are just beginning their trial practice, as well as experienced attorneys who appreciate observing new ideas and methods.

Schedule

8:15    Welcome and Overview of Trial
John H. Kim, Houston Chapter President
Hon. James N. Parsons III, TEX-ABOTA President
8:30    Opening Statements
Plaintiff Alice Oliver-Parrott, Houston, TX
Defense Lamont A. Jefferson, San Antonio, TX
9:15    Examination of Plaintiff
Direct Jennifer Haltom Doan, Texarkana, TX
Cross Don Jackson, Houston, TX
Re-Direct Jennifer Haltom Doan, Texarkana, TX
9:55    Refreshment Break
10:10  Examination of Plaintiff’s Expert Witness
Direct Robert E.Ammons, Houston, TX
Cross Steven W. Quattlebaum, Little Rock,AR
Re-Direct Robert E.Ammons, Houston, TX
10:50  Panel Discussion on Strategy and Technique
11:35  Lunch Presentation: Ethics 1 hr ethics
Hon. Royal Furgeson
12:45  Examination of Defendant
Direct Patrick W. Mizell, Houston, TX
Cross Murray Fogler, Houston, TX
Re-Direct Patrick W. Mizell, Houston, TX
1:25    Examination of Defense Expert
Direct Otway B. Denny, Houston, TX
Cross Paula F. Sweeney, Dallas, TX
Re-Direct Otway B. Denny, Houston, TX
2:00    Refreshment Break
2:15    Closing Argument
Plaintiff Robin C. Gibbs, Houston, TX
Defense Rusty Hardin, Houston, TX
Rebuttal Robin C. Gibbs, Houston, TX
3:15    Questions and Answers
Robin C. Gibbs
Rusty Hardin
3:30    Jury Deliberation (Broadcast Live to Audience)
4:30    Panel Discussion on Strategy and Technique
5:00    Adjourn

Tuition and Course Materials

Online registration will close on June 11, 2012 at 3:00 pm CDT

$285.00  Standard Tuition per person, includes lunch

$ 75.00  Law Student, no CLE available, includes lunch

MCLE Credits
MCLE #901243144
7.75 hrs including 1 hr ethics

Houston MIT 2012 Registration Form

TEX-ABOTA’s commitment to the community and youth education is something about which we can all be proud.  By educating teachers from all parts of Texas, Teachers’ Law School has become a national model — but it couldn’t be done without chapter support.

TLS-2012 is right around the corner, July 12-14, at the Texas Law Center in Austin.

Here’s how you and your chapters can help:

1. Spread the word to your teachers and administrators that the deadline for Y4 applications is April 15th. TLS needs and wants teachers from your communities;

2. Support the teachers through the TLS scholarship program. TEX-ABOTA encourages all chapters to send two teachers. Scholarships of $1,250 fund a teacher’s travel, lodging, meals, and program materials.

Send your checks made out to TEX-ABOTA, noting TLS in the memo field and mail them to TEX-ABOTA Treasurer, David Chamberlain at 301 Congress, 21st Floor, Austin, 78701.

Registration for the Teachers’ Law School 2012 is closed. Thank you for your interest.

Benjamin Franklin never went to college, but he founded a school that ultimately became the University of Pennsylvania. Along with other Founding Fathers, Franklin believed the task of educating, inspiring and motivating young people to guard the sacred deposit of liberty was critical to the success of a new nation. Thomas Jefferson said that education was the key to recognizing tyranny in all of its forms.

 Note:  TEX-ABOTA MEMBERS – YOU CAN NOMINATE YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN OR ANY OTHER STUDENT IN GRADE 9-12!
One nomination per member, first come first served – you must use the Nomination Form.
See forms at bottom.   Deadline: August 1, 2012.

Constitution Day – September 17, 2012 – is the ideal time to honor and to remember our societal commitment to the ideals of liberty and justice for all, and to inspire young people to become our future guardians of liberty. This year, the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates will present the first installment in Texas of the James Otis Lecture Series for young scholars attending Texas high schools.

We are reaching out to teachers and administrators for nominations to become a member of the first class of James Otis Constitutional Scholars. These students will be invited to attend a full day of activities in Austin, Texas, held in the Chamber of the Texas House of Representatives. House officers, noted lawyers and government officials will all attend while the students listen to renowned author and professor H.W. Brands present a lecture on the life of Benjamin Franklin. Dr. Brand’s book on Franklin will be delivered to each student selected in time for them to read the book. At the end of the lecture, students may approach the well of the House to pose questions to Dr. Brands. The Scholars will be treated to a full tour of the State Capitol. Lunch will be provided for the students.

Henry William Brands

Henry William Brands was born in Oregon, went to college in California, sold cutlery across the American West, and earned graduate degrees in mathematics and history in Oregon and Texas. He taught at Vanderbilt University and Texas A&M University before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is the Dickson Allen Anderson Centennial Professor of History. He writes on American history and politics, with books including Traitor to His Class, Andrew Jackson, The Age of Gold, The First American, and TR. Several of his books have been bestsellers; two, Traitor to His Class and The First American, were finalists for the Pulitzer

The American Board of Trial Advocates is a national, invitation-only, organization devoted to the preservation of the justice system in America, and is composed of lawyers representing clients in all types of cases and on both sides of the docket. For more information on ABOTA and the Texas Chapter, go to www.abota.org.

The James Otis Lecture Series 

Further information may be obtained from Cay Dickson (tex-abota@abota.org).

This year, the nominations need to be submitted by Friday, March 2, 2012.  They will be presented at the March 10 Board Meeting and voted on at the May 19 meeting. The awards will be presented at the Annual Dinner on Saturday, June 23, 2012, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The chairpersons for these awards are:

Lawyer of the Year:
Curt Fenley
Fenley & Bate, LLP
PO Box 450 224 E. Lufkin Avenue
Lufkin, TX 75902-0450
United States
Telephone: (936) 634-3346
Email: cfenley@fenley-bate.com

Jurist of the Year: 
Tim “Ty” Griesenbeck
Plunkett & Gibson, Inc.
Renaissance Plaza, Suite 1100
70 N.E. Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78216
Telephone: (210) 734-7092
Email: griesenbeckt@plunkett-gibson.com

Champion of the 7th Amendment:
Patricia Alvarez
The Alvarez Law Firm PC
415 Shiloh, Ste. A
Laredo, TX 78045
United States
Telephone: (956) 722-6601
Email: palvarez@thealvarezlawfirm.com

 Download the Annual Awards Criteria here.

Hon. Jim Parsons came up with the idea to chronicle the history by speaking to several members who were instrumental in the founding of TEX-ABOTA in 1991. Chief among those members is Bob  Vial, who served as Chairman from 1991-1995.

Buckalew Media, of Austin, was hired to write, produce and shoot the video.  All of it was shot at the Santa Fe CLE Roundup in Santa Fe, NM in June, 2011.  Sen. Robert Duncan was kind enough to participate from his Austin office.

We believe there are many uses for this video, which runs just over 14 minutes.  If you would like a copy for your chapter, contact Cay Dickson at tex-abota@abota.org. The cost is $6.50 per tape, plus shipping.

Late July saw 31 teachers from most all parts of the state,, and two from Arkansas, travel to Austin for two-and-a-half days of legal education unlike anything they had experienced before. (See the teachers’ comments here).

Gerry Goldstein, David Halpern, Eric Nichols.

The Teachers’ Law School concept was conceived in Austin and launched in the summer of 2009. Since then, TLS has grown in popularity both inside and outside the Lone Star State and now claims a spot amid ABOTA National’s array of youth education programs.

Gerry Goldstein and Eric Nichols were presenters, as well as
adversaries of the highest order in the Yearning for Zion cases in
Eldorado and San Angelo. Nichols led the state’s prosecution of all
defendants and just won conviction of Warren Jeffs. Goldstein is a nationally respected crim defense atty from San Antonio. Together at TLS, they exemplified civility through their mutual respect for one another.

In April 2011, the Colorado Chapter launched its first TLS to Denver-area educators and “TLS-Y2 Rocky Mountain Style” is in the works. Other teachers’ law schools are in development in California, Florida and ABOTA’s newest regional organization, East ABOTA.

As with the first and second years of TLS, Texas social studies and government teachers made application to attend TLS-Y3.

As in years past, the teachers were treated to an all expense-paid legal education that included food, lodging, and travel expenses. For the first time ever, TLS played host to guests, as the Arkansas Chapter of ABOTA sought admission for two of its teachers.

Hon. Cathy Cochran addresses the teachers.

Joining TEX-ABOTA in generously sponsoring the teachers were the members of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus, Dallas, East Texas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, and Waco chapters.

This year’s faculty included 16 of the state’s premier lawyers and judges, including the Honorable Wallace Jefferson, Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, nationally renowned defense attorney, Gerry Goldstein, the Honorable Cathy Cochran of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and ethics expert, Chuck Herring.

Planning for the fourth year of the program is underway. Mark your calendars and get your chapters fired up to sponsor teachers to represent your areas. TLS-Y4 will take place at the Texas Law Center in Austin, July 12-14, 2012.

David Halpern

For more information or to find out how your chapter can help the program, email David Halpern at David.Halpern@oag.state.tx.us.

The Houstonian   111 North Post Oak

6:30-7:30 – Cocktails
7:30-10:30 – Program, new member introduction

RSVP to tex-abota@abota.org