Kaufman Bar Meeting Notes

As Kaufman County Bar President I’ve been working to start a bar philanthropy project. I’m a little worried about my ability to motivate my colleagues. Everyone is really busy, we don’t have a lot of time, the economy sucks etc. I don’t even have a Vice President to boss around (that was me, but since my promotion the position has been open).

Juvenile Defendant Literacy Project
To that end today I asked the bar to support a literacy project for juvenile probationers. I take no credit for this idea. It’s the brainchild of Juvie Probation Director Laura Peace. This is her baby and the Kaufman Bar needs to come through.

If we can teach these defendants to read maybe they don’t graduate to adult criminal court. That’s the goal. Don’t worry about me, I’ll take more divorce cases. These kids need our help more than I need adult criminal clients.

We do need some help in the area of professional fundraising. I’d like to have an annual event, something we can build on each year. Since I’ve been a Kaufman bar member we’ve never attempted anything more ambitious than a Christmas party. If you have experience or ideas, email me and let me know how to get something like this started.

Chris Souza on Appeals-
Today’s speaker was Dallas appellate genius Chris Souza. Mr. Souza updated our group on some recent appellate decisions.

Quote of the day, from the court of criminal appeals- “there is nothing inherently reckless about either exposing oneself or masturbating.” Got that? Quit laughing.

The case was Smith vs. State, a CCA decision about a waste of time let’s arrest some gay people sex in the park case in Houston.

Chris is one of the best criminal appellate lawyers in the State. If you haven’t heard him speak about appeals you’re missing out.