Friday, April 8, 2011

It's time to stand up again

Once again it's time for the criminal defense bar to work together to give the State Bar of Texas a message. Votes for the next president-elect of the State Bar can be cast online until 5pm on May 2, 2011. This time around we actually have a choice.

Buck Files is a criminal defense attorney from Tyler, Texas. If his name sounds familiar it's because of his monthly column "Federal Corner" in The Voice of the Defense, the magazine of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Unlike the lawyers from the "white shoe firms," Buck Files knows and understands what we go through on a daily basis. He knows and understands the way things work in the criminal defense bar. He knows there is a disconnect between the Texas Supreme Court, the bar leadership and Texas attorneys.

Like my colleague, Mark Bennett, I have concerns about Mr. Files' position regarding the recent referendum on the ethics rules. I don't know what Mr. Files' position is on Justice William Jefferson's declaration that the Court isn't satisfied with the results of that referendum. I feel confident that Mr. Files will at least listen to the members of the bar before trying to ram something down our throats again with our dues money.

We made our voices heard earlier this year. Now it's time to do it again. Send (another) message to the State Bar. Vote for Buck Files for State Bar President-Elect.

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