Rocket Docket | July 2021

Rocket Docket Newsletter

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July 2021
Past Issues

Changes at Baylor Law

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Dean Brad Toben with Newly Appointed Associate Dean Patricia Wilson (Center) and Senior Assistant Dean Angela Cruseturner (Right), July 2021

Changes are underway at Baylor Law as the Law School prepares to welcome a highly credentialed fall entering class. Dean Leah Teague (JD ’85) has announced that she is stepping away from her role as Associate Dean to return to a full-time faculty position. Dean Teague will also hold the inaugural position of Director of Business Law Programs at Baylor Law. In this role, she will elevate and strengthen our business and transactional programs’ national profile. In addition, Baylor Law is at the vanguard of a national movement to incorporate leadership training into the law school experience, and Dean Teague will now focus additional time and resources on growing this national movement while at the same time continuing to serve on committees and in leadership roles at Baylor University.

Patricia Wilson, a member of Baylor Law’s faculty since 1993, will serve as Associate Dean, with responsibilities focusing on academic-related matters involving faculty and students. Angela Cruseturner (JD ’02), Baylor Law’s long-time Assistant Dean of Career Development, has been named as Senior Assistant Dean. She will take on additional administrative responsibilities and lead on matters relating to staff and the student experience. . .Full Story


Baylor Law’s Summer 2021 Commencement

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Congratulations to the Baylor Law Summer 2021 Commencement class! Dean Brad Toben presided over the ceremony and Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., conferred the degrees. Member of the class James Wilson gave the invocation and Matthew McKinnon addressed the graduates as the highest-ranking student. Professor Jerry Powell delivered an inspiring address and Provost Brickhouse, Dean Toben, Associate Dean Leah Teague, and Assistant Dean Angela Cruseturner presented the diplomas. Professors Jeremy Counseller and Jim Wren hooded the graduates . . . View the Photos


Baylor Law’s Connection to ‘12 Mighty Orphans’

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The movie “12 Mighty Orphans,” tells the true story of the Mighty Mites, the Depression-era football teams from the Masonic Home and School of Texas. This inspiring true story is of particular interest to those associated with Baylor University and Baylor Law: Judge Abner Vernon McCall, who served as the Dean of the Law School for eleven years beginning in 1948, was one of the Mighty Mites. . . Full Story



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Alumni Notes
Alumni Notes are published based on the information we receive from our alumni.
If you have been recognized or have other professional news to share, please e-mail law_alumni@baylor.edu for inclusion in a future issue of Rocket Docket.

Allen D. Place, Jr., JD ’79, was recently honored with the Percy Foreman Lawyer of the Year award by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Within a year of graduating from Baylor Law, he opened Place Law Office in his hometown of Gatesville. Allen currently practices with his wife Tonya K. Place and his daughter, Shea E. Place. Allen has been active in his community for over 40 years, serving as Lions Club President and a deacon at First Baptist Church. From 1982 through 1990, he served as Coryell County Democratic Chairman and Gatesville Municipal Judge. Allen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1990 and served there until 1999. In 1993, he was named the Chair of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Allen was the House author of the Penal Code revision and was named one of the Ten Best Legislators during the 73rd session of the Texas Legislature in 1993. Allen has focused on parole law for the last 30 years and is currently in his 22nd year as senior legislative counsel for TCDLA.
W. Lee Keeling, JD ’89, will serve on The University of Houston-Victoria President’s Regional Advisory Board beginning September 1. Lee Keeling is a Brady native and has worked in Victoria as an attorney since 1993. Since 1995, he has been a partner of Walker Keeling LLP, focusing primarily on business and transactional law. In addition to working as an attorney, Keeling is a UHV adjunct faculty member and has taught business law courses for the past 14 years. He is a former director of the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corp. and served as chair of the Victoria Economic Development Corp. He is the current president of the City of Victoria Parks and Recreation Commission and is a board member of Hospice of South Texas and Mid-Coast Family Services. Other professional and community partnerships include the Victoria County Bar Association, DeTar Hospital, Prospera Housing & Community Services, and Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid.
Robert Cresanti, JD ’91, has joined Accenture as managing director to lead government relations activities in North America. He will serve as head of Accenture’s global Government Relations network.
Derek Gilliland, JD ’98, will lead Sorey & Gilliland LLP’s Intellectual Property practice in their new law office in Waco.
Rep. Craig Hall, JD ’99, has been appointed judge of the 2nd District Court by Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
Callan Searcy, JD ’10, has joined the Office of the Texas Attorney General in Austin as Assistant Attorney General, Bankruptcy & Collections Division.
Taylor Mohr, JD ’12, merged the Mohr Law Group with Albin Oldner Law in Frisco, Texas.
Kyle Knas, JD ’14, with Naman Howell in Waco, is now board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Ryan Luna, JD ’16, has been appointed by the McLennan County commissioners as the first judge of the newly created McLennan County Court-at-Law No. 3. Ryan has worked for the Carlson Law Firm in Waco for the past five years. He also serves as the pro bono legal clinic director at Mission Waco, is on the Waco Transit Advisory Board, and is on the board of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas.
Ryan Headley, JD ’17, is now as associate practicing construction litigation at Bollier Ciccone LLP in Austin.
Carlos E. Alferez, JD ’19, has joined Bell Nunnally in Dallas as an associate and member of its Real Estate practice.
In Memoriam
Robert Louis “Bob” Schwarz, JD ’55, Full Obituary
William Thad “Tal” Roberts, III, JD ’66, Full Obituary
Hon. Toby Goodman, JD ’74, Full Obituary
James Eugene “Gene” Clack, JD ’76, Full Obituary
Steven David Einhorn, JD ’08, Full Obituary

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Baylor Law, Alumni Relations, One Bear Place #97288, Waco, Texas 76798
254.710.8357 | baylor.edu/law/alumni

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