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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
If not us, who? If not now, when? “No one can sincerely try to help another without helping one’s self.” I blinked and the bar year went by. I began this year by announcing four new HBA projects: (1) launching a Veteran’s Initiative to insure that our veterans have access to legal counsel; (2) establishing Family Evening Court to provide the working poor and pro bono attorneys with an option to have uncontested family law matters heard easily after working hours; (3) commencing the Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards to officially recognize those law firms, corporations, and individual lawyers who provide outstanding pro bono service; and (4) participating in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Harris County Juvenile Alternatives Initiative to help make recommendations to improve our juvenile justice detention facilities and practices. I am proud to say that with the enthusiastic support of the lawyers and judges of Houston, these projects are up and running. The core component of these projects is volunteerism. The HBA Veterans’ Initiative has served close to 1,000 veterans in the Houston area. Over 200 Houston lawyers have volunteered their time and talent at Friday legal clinics at the DeBakey VA Medical Center, at American Legion Posts and VFW Halls, and at homes and at Stand Downs for disabled or homeless veterans. I want to thank all the lawyers who helped our veterans. I am confident that the HBA’s veterans’ program will continue to grow in the years to come. Those who protect our freedoms and our rule of law deserve full access to our justice system. Family Evening Court occurs the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Low-income persons represented by pro bono attorneys or pro se litigants with pauper affidavits (and depending on the court, litigants represented by a paid lawyer) can have their uncontested family law matters heard. The working poor litigant can avoid missing work. It is simple and quick. Someday, I hope this program can be expanded to more than once a month and perhaps geographically outreached. I want to thank the family law judges, the family law clerks, the bailiffs and sheriffs, Sunbelt Court Reporters, the family law section and the staff of the HBA and HVLP for volunteering their services to expand access to justice. On April 29, 2009, the first annual Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards ceremony and reception occurred. The purpose of the program is to officially recognize outstanding pro bono service. The award winners will be permanently recognized on plaques in the lobbies of Harris County civil, criminal, family and juvenile courthouses. The program will hopefully encourage others to volunteer to address the urgent need for legal services for the poor. HBA representatives have also participated in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Harris County Juvenile Alternatives Initiative. Through the program, a comprehensive review and analysis of our juvenile justice system, including detention facilities and procedures, is underway. The result will include recommendations that if adopted will hopefully improve the way we as a society are dealing with getting children out of the cycle of crime and on the path to productive citizenship. In addition to HBA’s planned projects, Hurricane Ike threw an unplanned challenge at many of our citizens and lawyers. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping one’s self.” Nowhere did that sage comment ring more true than through the volunteer efforts of Houston lawyers following Hurricane Ike. Despite their own personal hardships, hundreds of Houston lawyers volunteered their talents, money, and time to provide legal, financial, and emotional support to their fellow citizens and lawyers which helped our city and legal community rebound quickly. We also held an election which resulted in a large number of new judges taking the bench in Harris County. The judges and lawyers of Harris County should be proud of the professionalism exhibited by the former and new judges and the bar to allow for a smooth and civil transition in accordance with the rule of law. In my initial President’s Page, I referred to a favorite Churchill quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” With the challenging economic times, making a living can be difficult, but many Houston lawyers continue to make a wonderful life by what they give. Now, more than ever, we need to volunteer our legal talents to those in need. In my final President’s Message, I want to recognize my father, James B. Sales, who I dearly love and respect. He represents the best of the legal profession - honor, integrity, zealous but always ethical representation of clients, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to the belief that every citizen should have the right to access to justice. Thank you, Dad, for inspiring me and many other lawyers to serve others. I concluded my year as president of the Houston Bar Association on May 14, 2009. I want to thank the lawyers of Houston for allowing me the honor and privilege of serving as your president. Our bar association is in great hands, as Barrett Reasoner will be an outstanding president. My year of service has confirmed to me what I already inherently knew - that Houston is home to the most talented, generous, and professional lawyers anywhere and that our bar association is second to none. I am indeed humbled by the experience and forever proud to be a Houston lawyer.
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