Rocket Docket | October/November/December 2022

December 23, 2022
Past Issues

36 Children Adopted Into 28 Forever Families at McLennan County’s 15th Annual Adoption Day at Baylor Law

On Friday, November 18, McLennan County celebrated Adoption Day, where 36 children in foster care realized their dream of finding a forever family at Baylor Law before McLennan County Judge Nikki Mundkowsky. . . Full Story

Starr Federalist Papers Lecture Series Welcome The Hon. Thomas R. Phillips

Alice Starr, The Hon. Thomas R. Phillips, John and Marie Chiles, and Dean Brad Toben

Baylor Law and the Starr Federalist Papers Lecture Series presented by John, JD ’52, and Marie Chiles, welcomed The Hon. Thomas R. Phillips, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and Partner at Baker Botts. In his lecture, “The Lost Art of Compromise,” Justice Phillips spoke on how the Founders didn’t let “the best be the enemy of the good,” and therefore set a standard of compromise to which “today’s leaders would be most wise to emulate.” | More Photos

Ret. Vice Admiral John Hannink Reflects on Veterans Day and Public Service

In honor of Veterans Day 2022 and as part of Baylor Law's Professional Development Program, Ret. Vice Admiral John G. Hannink, JD ’94, gave a remarkable lecture on the importance of public service and the impact lawyers can make in their local communities and worldwide. The event also commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Baylor Law Veterans Clinic. | More Photos

Baylor Law Professor Jim Wren Recognized by the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates with Ethics and Civility Award

The Waco Chapter of The Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (TEX-ABOTA) has selected Baylor Law’s Jim Wren to receive the 2022 Civility and Ethics Award for outstanding ethics and civility in his professional career. . . Full Story

Baylor Law Veterans Clinic Honors Advocates of the Year for 2022: Dominic Braus (JD ’09) and Curtis Brown

Baylor Law Director of Clinical Programs Josh Borderud (L) and Dean Brad Toben (R) with Curtis Brown and Dominic Braus (JD ’09)

The Baylor Law Veterans Clinic recognized Dominic Braus (JD ’09) and Curtis Brown as the 2022 Advocates of the Year at the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association luncheon on Friday, November 4. . . Full Story

Baylor Law Announces Schools Selected to Compete in the 2023 The Closer Transactional Law Competition

Baylor Law has announced the 14 law schools and student competitors that will participate in the seventh annual The Closer National Transactional Law Competition in January 2023. . . Full Story

Baylor Law Family Shares Christmas Joy With Local Elementary School Children

For the past 11 years, Baylor Law and the Baylor Law Student Bar Association (SBA) has partnered with H-E-B to raise money for Christmas gifts for approximately 900 children at Baylor Law’s Waco ISD Adopt-A-School, Bell’s Hill Elementary. | More Photos

Baylor Law’s Long-time Special Events Coordinator and Office Manager Meredith Meyer Retires After 19 Years of Service

We bid a fond farewell to Meredith Meyer, who, after 19 years with us here at Baylor Law, has moved on to new opportunities taking care of her newborn grandson full-time. Thank you, Meredith, for your years of dedication to Baylor Law and our students. We pray for many continued blessings as you enjoy your next phase. A special lunch was held in the Dean’s Suite honoring Meredith and her remarkable service to Baylor Law.

Baylor Law Student Amanda Alvez Receives TYLA Scholarship

Baylor Law student Amanda Alvez is one of three recipients of the 2022 Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) Diversity Scholarship. . . Full Story

Whether you’re looking for a summer clerk or full-time attorney, someone experienced or right out of school, the Baylor Law Career Development Office stands ready to assist you. You can post a job on our website or contact the Career Development Office at BaylorLawJobs@baylor.edu or 254.710.1210 to discuss your specific need. Hire a Baylor Lawyer today!

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.

Hon. Jack M. Skeen, Jr., JD ’70, has served the county and city of Tyler for 50 years. To honor his unselfish public service, the Smith County Commissioner’s Court passed a unanimous resolution to designate the Smith County Emergency Operations Center after Judge Skeen. The building will now be known as the Jack M. Skeen, Jr. Emergency Operations Center of Smith County. Judge Skeen was the assistant district attorney, city attorney, and a municipal court judge before being named as Smith County District Attorney in 1982. After serving for six terms, Judge Skeen was elected as the judge for the 241st district court in 2003. He is expecting to retire at the end of 2022. The Hon. Diane DeVasto, JD ’74, was instrumental in organizing the honor for her fellow Baylor Lawyer.

Kyle Dreyer, JD ’84, has joined Burress Injury Law based in McKinney, Texas. Kyle will continue to serve as the Program Coordinator and Adjunct Professor for Baylor Law’s Executive LL.M Program in Litigation Management while working with the firm.

Hon. Robert Mayfield, JD ’84, is retiring after serving 24 years as Judge of Johnson County Court at Law Number One. He previously served as an assistant criminal district attorney in Tarrant County for 14 years. Judge Mayfield plans to serve as a visiting judge during his retirement.

Hon. Penny Roberts, JD ’89, has retired from her service with Tom Green County Court-at-Law. She began her career with the county in 1991 working in the District Attorney’s Office. She was appointed to the County Court-at-Law in 1995. Judge Roberts plans to continue serving the courts in a limited capacity as one of the Senior Judges of the area.

Mark Pratt, JD ’91, District Attorney for Hill County, was the recipient of the 2022 Lone Star Prosecutor Award. The award is given each year by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA).

Jonathan J. Bates, JD ’93, was recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas in 2022 by Super Lawyers. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, as well as President-Elect of the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Hon. Gary Coley, Jr., JD ’93, 74th District Judge in Waco, was presented the 2022 Judicial Innovation and Leadership Award by Texas CASA at the Texas Children Commission’s Child Welfare Judges Conference. The award was given in recognition of his commitment to public service, his leadership on legal representation, and his dedication to children and families.

Will Ellerman, JD ’93, has joined McKool Smith as a principal in the Dallas office.

Katie Anderson, JD ’94, a member of Clark Hill law firm in the Dallas office, was the recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Champions Award from Texas Lawyer presented at the Texas Legal Excellence Awards Dinner on September 14 in Dallas.

Marissa Sandoval Rodriguez, JD ’05, with Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton, LLP in McAllen, has been elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Allison Dickson, JD ’07, has joined Patterson Law Group as Of Counsel. She will continue her legal research role at Baylor Law School.

J. Reid Simpson, JD ’09, has joined Yetter Coleman LLP in Houston as senior counsel with a practice centered on complex commercial litigation and appeals. He will have the opportunity to work alongside his father, Reagan Simpson, who has been a partner at the firm since 2011.

John Litzler, JD ’11, is the General Counsel and Director of Public Policy for the Christian Life Commission, an arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Greg Siemankowski, JD ’12, has joined Barron & Newburger’s Austin headquarters as a senior counsel. He will join the firm’s Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups.

Kristin E. Lechowicz, JD ’14, has rejoined Kelley Kronenberg in the Chicago office. She is a partner in the workers compensation practice group.

Shelby Raye Holt, JD ’17, has joined Akerman LLP’s Houston office as an Associate in the Insurance Litigation practice.

Stephanie Brown, JD ’18, has been named Child Sex Abuse Prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office for Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Caylin Craig, JD ’20, has joined Crowe & Dunlevy as an associate in the Dallas office.

Asher Miller, JD ’22, has joined McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, Grinke in Dallas.

Noley R. Bice, Jr., JD ’61, Full Obituary

Robert Stephen Thompson, JD ’62, Full Obituary

Robert F. “Bob” Salter, JD ’63, Full Obituary

James Warren “Jim” Lane, JD ’68, Full Obituary

Peter N. Steiner, JD ’77, Full Obituary

John William Alexander, JD ’78, Full Obituary

Ramiro R. “Ramsey” Muñiz, JD ’79, Full Obituary

Sarah Grace “Stacy” Ramos, JD ’81, Full Obituary

Wallace Morgan Smith, JD ’83, Full Obituary

Michael Floyd Barrett, JD ’88, Full Obituary

Ryan W. Green, JD ’98, Full Obituary

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

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