Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
When Dad was dying, hundreds of people came to see him. They filled the kitchen and den, stood in the halls, even out on the lawn. They were looking for one more piece of advice, a word of encouragement. He turned no one away and visited with each one of them. Sometimes several people arrived at the same time, but they each wanted to see him alone.
Mom often remarked that we should file briefs before dinner. Those evenings together form some of my fondest memories and engendered a love of public policy and debate. Through those family gatherings, I learned how to think rigorously and how to recognize the holes and blind spots in my arguments.
Despite warnings that doing so would undermine the responsibilities of corporate directors, the Texas Supreme Court Friday threw out a $95.5 million judgment against two Longview Energy Co. directors. The court said the evidence was insufficient to justify a jury judgment that the two conspired to deprive Longview of an opportunity to invest in the Eagle Ford. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
The new firm, led by named partners Kenneth Johnston and David Pratt, includes five partners, one counsel and three associates.
Young is a former clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and counsel to the U.S. Attorney General.
Proper preparation of a log is key to litigating about privilege. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently rejected the sufficiency of the defendant’s log in an employment case. The opinion provides four practical tips for attorneys involved in privilege disputes.
My dad Jim Hudgins became a lawyer in 1973, when I was only 2. He worked during the day to support us and attended night school at South Texas College of Law to become a lawyer. My dad was not known for his prowess as a student. My mom tells stories of having to lock him in a room to make sure he studied. But what he lacked in studiousness, he made up for with amazing instincts.
When I was in middle school, my dad made the conscious decision to trade international travel and private jets for Friday night football games and drill team competitions. He opened a solo practice in Humble, Texas. He took whatever walked in the door—anything from probate court to federal court. I didn’t think twice about what he gave up. I was just happy to have my dad home.
When I was in middle school, my dad made the conscious decision to trade international travel and private jets for Friday night football games and drill team competitions. He opened a solo practice in Humble, Texas. He took whatever walked in the door—anything from probate court to federal court. I didn’t think twice about what he gave up. I was just happy to have my dad home.
It was always clear, as a child, that my brother and I had no free will until we had obtained our law degrees from the University of Alabama. After that had been accomplished, we could decide what we wanted to do with our lives.
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