Yes, Virginia, a bolo is a tie

I ran into a colleague of mine on the 7th floor of the Harris County Criminal (In)justice Center yesterday while I was voting for the attorney representative on the Harris County Bail Bond Board. My colleague and I have a couple of things in common: we both graduated from South Texas College of Law and we both wear bolo ties.

He saw mine and told me not to go near County Court No. 4 because the judge, John Clinton (who has appeared before on these pages) did not care for his choice of neck wear. Apparently the judge felt it was an affront to the court to walk into the courtroom wearing a bolo tie not pulled up to the adam's apple.

The judge went so far as to claim that the bolo wasn't a tie.

Well, maybe it's time for some legislative history on this matter because on June 15, 2007, the Good Haired One, Governor Rick Perry, signed House Concurrent Resolution 12 making the bolo tie the official tie of Texas.

According to the text of the resolution, the bolo tie is:

A fashion accessory that can be personalized to reflect the wearer's taste and interests, the bolo tie is well matched to the individualism that is so much a part of the Texan identity; in selecting or designing a clasp, bolo tie wearers are able to express their personal flair; moreover, the selection of a bolo over a standard tie can suggest that the wearer refuses to be bound by convention and relishes the freedom to exhibit a distinctive sense of style even as they maintain a dignified, formal appearance.

The bolo tie symbolizes both the state's iconic western culture and the originality of its residents, and it is indeed appropriate that this handsome and unique apparel receive special legislative recognition...

I tend not to agree with much of what Gov. Perry does, but in this case, Gov. Goodhair got it right. So Judge Clinton just needs to get on board; after all, he and Perry bat for the same team.

Saddle up, it's time to ride

Charlie Dunn, he's the one to see
Charlie done the boots that are on my feet
It makes Charlie real pleased to see me walkin' with ease
Charlie Dunn, he's the one to see
"Charlie Dunn" -- Jerry Jeff Walker

All is right in the world today. Judge Kevin Madison announced he rescinded the Lakeway Municipal Court's ban on cowboy boots.

"I guess the adage 'Don't Mess with Texas' should be changed to 'Don't Mess with Texans' Cowboy Boots!' " -- Hon. Kevin Madison.

Now if someone can just tell me what sartorial means.

Giving it the boot

Well, I decided that, I'd get my cowboy hat
and go down to Marble Arch Station.
'Cause when a Texan fancies, he'll take his chances,  
and chances will be takin, now that's for sure.  
And them Limey eyes, they were eyein' a prize,  
that some people call manly footwear.  
And they said you're from down South,  
and when you open your mouth,  
you always seem to put your foot there.

"London Homesick Blues" -- Gary P. Nunn

There's a showdown a-brewing up over in Lakeway (a resort community near Austin) over a municipal judge's aspirations to be the legal community's Jerry Blackwell. The Honorable Kevin Madison presides over Lakeway's Municipal Court of Record No. One and has decreed that it is inappropriate for lawyers to wear cowboy boots in the courtroom.

The court also requires all attorneys practicing in the court to sign a form indicating that they have read the local rules and promising to abide by them.

What was that, you say? You heard me right, a judge in a Texas court has banned the wearing of cowboy boots. I never knew it was optional. If I remember correctly when I took the oath to get my law license, I think I swore at some point to never walk into a Texas courtroom NOT wearing boots. I'll need to pull the oath out from the back of my license to verify that -- but I'm pretty certain it says something like that.

"Counsel shall be dressed appropriately while in attendance of the Court, which means a coat and tie with dress slacks, socks, and dress shoes for men and dress, blouse and skirt with hosiery, or business dress slacks and dress shoes for women. No blue jeans or cowboy boots will be worn by counsel." -- Lakeway Municipal Court Local Rule No. 5.

How on earth can a Texas lawyer dress "appropriately" without the requisite manly footwear?

Apparently the judge has since backed off on holding a lawyer in contempt for wearing boots into his courtroom -- but, as if often the case with anyone attached to the government, the "new" rule is worse than the old one. The judge told a report from the Austin American-Statesman that it was okay to wear boots in the courtroom as long as they were "nice" boots.

And who's going to make that decision? Instead of a black and white rule (no matter how un-Texan it may be) the judge has decided to make himself the arbiter of taste in the Lakeway Municipal Court.

See also:


"Well-heeled Lakeway should give court rule the boot" Austin American-Statesman, Sept. 18, 2010.
"Lawyers balk at Lakeway court ban on cowboy boots" Austin American-Statesman, Sept. 19, 2010.