Baker Botts closed out August with two notable pro bono victories — a due process claim on behalf of a Florida tenant in the Eleventh Circuit and a closely watched constitutional challenge to Texas’ drag ban.
Houston partner Aaron Streett and New York associate Megan Tankel secured a victory in the Eleventh Circuit for a pro bono client whose constitutional rights were violated when a Florida court clerk took $3,600 he had deposited in a court registry during an eviction proceeding, according to the opinion.
And last week, U.S. District Judge David Hittner declared Texas’ controversial “drag ban” law unconstitutional in a case brought by Baker Botts and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. The ruling drew attention both for its outcome and its invoking of Dolly Parton, who died the same day the ruling was published.
Also in this edition of P.S., we spotlight two Texas recipients among the American Association of Law Libraries’ annual award winners.
And the Texas General Counsel Forum has announced the recipients of its 2026 Magna Stella Awards, recognizing in-house legal leaders across Texas for their leadership, innovation and contributions to the legal profession. The honorees will be celebrated at the Forum’s annual gala on Nov. 19 at the Fairmont Austin.
Texas A&M Law Librarian, Harris County Law Library Honored
The American Association of Law Libraries has announced two Texas recipients among its 2026 award winners.
Lisa Goodman, executive professor and director of the Dee J. Kelly Law Library at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, received AALL’s Volunteer Service Award. Established in 2009, the award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the association.
The Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library in Houston received AALL’s Excellence in Community Engagement Award in the organization category for libraries with budgets of $1 million or more. The award recognizes AALL members, chapters and law libraries that engage with and positively impact their local communities. The Hainsworth Law Library was honored for its LAWPod Clinics, an initiative designed to expand access to legal information and assistance.
Both awards are part of AALL’s annual recognition program that honors law librarians, legal information professionals and organizations for professional achievement, service and contributions to their communities.
Texas General Counsel Forum Announces 2026 Magna Stella Award Winners
The Texas General Counsel Forum has announced the recipients of its 2026 Magna Stella Awards, which recognize in-house legal leaders across Texas for their leadership, innovation and contributions to the legal profession.
The honorees will be celebrated at the Forum’s annual gala on Nov. 19 at the Fairmont Austin. The event will be held in conjunction with the Texas General Counsel Forum’s 28th Annual Conference.
This year’s honorees are:
Lynn Switzer Bozalis Lifetime Achievement Award: Jennifer Wuamett, NXP Semiconductors
Pro Bono Champion: Dave Louie, LyondellBasell
Diversity Champion: Sarah Wariner, Jacobs
General Counsel-Large Legal Department: Vanessa Allen Sutherland, Phillips 66
General Counsel- Small Legal Department: Gustavo Torres, Fervo Energy
General Counsel-Non-Profit/ Government: Jackie Hoffman, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
Deputy/ Senior Managing Counsel-Large Legal Department: Heather Johnson, Energy Transfer
Deputy/ Senior Managing Counsel-Small Legal Department: Ginger Appleberry, Caris Life Sciences
Major Litigation Award: Casey Moore, Vistra Corp.
Major Transaction: Adam Vela, Devon Energy Corporation
Baker Botts Pro Bono Client Gets Win in Eleventh Circuit
Baker Botts secured a pro bono victory in the Eleventh Circuit, which ruled that a Florida court clerk violated a man’s constitutional rights when it took $3,600 he had deposited in a court registry during an eviction proceeding.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held Aug. 17 that the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts in Florida violated Blake Warner’s due process rights by failing to adequately notify him before declaring the money abandoned and transferring it to a county fund.
Houston partner Aaron Streett and New York associate Megan Tankel handled the case. The clerk was represented by Akerman’s Jason Margolin.
The clerk mailed notice to an outdated address despite having received 12 previous pieces of returned mail from that address, according to the opinion. The clerk also published notice in a predominantly Spanish-language newspaper that reached less than 0.2 percent of the county’s population.
The court held that the clerk’s efforts did not satisfy due process because it had more direct and practical ways to try to reach Warner. The clerk had access to Warner’s working email address, telephone number and another mailing address through a state e-filing system, the judges noted.
After Warner did not respond, the clerk deemed the $3,600 abandoned and took the money for public use.
The court also ruled 2-1 that the clerk violated the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause because Warner’s failure to respond to notices he never received could not establish that he had abandoned the money. Judge Robert Luck dissented from that portion of the ruling.
The panel declined to find Florida Statute Section 116.21 unconstitutional on its face and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Baker Botts Notches Pro Bono Win in Texas ‘Drag Ban’ Case
Last week, U.S. District Judge David Hittner declared Texas’ controversial “drag ban” law unconstitutional in a ruling that drew attention both for its outcome and its invoking of Dolly Parton — coincidentally issued the same day the singer’s death was announced.
Baker Botts has been representing the plaintiffs alongside the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas since the lawsuit was filed three years ago.
“I’m glad to see that the district court recognized the rights of drag performers to express their artistry,” said Brandt Thomas Roessler, an SMU Dedman School of Law graduate based in the firm’s New York office. “Baker Botts is proud of its continuing commitment to pro bono work, including the advocacy of LGBTQ+ civil rights.”
Austin partner Derek McDonald, Austin senior associate Maddy Dwertmann and Houston associate Emily Rohles also worked on the case for the firm.
Read coverage of the case from our partners at The Dallas Morning News.