2015 Bench Bar Program Draft as of 5/21/2015
Thursday, October 1
10:00 a.m.
Registration Desk
Registration Opens
11:30 a.m. - 1:00
p.m.
Hickory Room
Buffet Lunch
12:30 – 12:45
p.m.
Granite Ballroom
12:50 -1:50 p.m.
Granite Ballroom
Down hall from foyer
President’s Welcome
Brad Weber, Locke Lord LLP
The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the most anticipated Internet trend, expected to
connect 50-100 billion devices by 2020. In this powerful session, technology counsel
John Ansbach will pull back the curtain on IoT and explore some of ways in which this
mega-trend promises to change the world for practitioners and their clients, alike
John Ansbach, GDT
1:50 – 2:00 p.m.
Granite Foyer
Break
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Granite Ballroom
Technology in the Courtroom
Hear from an expert on how to make technology
work for you at trial
Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm
3:05 - 4:05 p.m.
Granite Ballroom
Federal Judges Panel
Meet our newest Federal Judges as they provide insightful updates
Judge Amos Mazzant, U.S. District Judge
Judge Robert L. Pitman, U.S. District Judge
Judge Robert Schroeder, U.S. District Judge
4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Cedar Room
How to protect your client in the event you’re no longer around
BREAKOUTS
(continued on
next page)
Estate Planning for Your Practice
Kelly Kubasta, Ferguson, Braswell & Fraser, P.C.
Travertine Room
Federal Law Clerks Panel
Moderator: Becca Rutherford, Senior Judicial Law Clerk to
U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Stickney
2015 Bench Bar Program Draft as of 5/21/2015
Thursday CLE continued
4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Cypress Room
Procedural Rules You Should Know but Probably Don't
Ladd Hirsch, Diamond McCarthy, LLP
Chris LaVigne, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
BREAKOUTS
Hickory Room
Dog Sniffs, Facebook Rap, Shredding Fish, and Sawed-off
Shotguns: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Criminal Cases,
2014-2015
Jason Steed, Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP
Thursday Evening
6:00 p.m.
Whitewater Patio
Judicial Social
Trial Lawyer of the Year Reception
honoring
Rod Phelan, Baker Botts L.L.P.
7:00 p.m.
Granite Ballroom
Dinner
Presentation of the
Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
Rod Phelan, Baker Botts L.L.P.
9:00 p.m.
Highlands Sports
Bar
Paseo Villa 3100
Karaoke
Paseo Villa 2108
Cards
Friday, October 2
7:00 a.m.
Hotel Entrance
Fun Run
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Granite Ballroom
Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Granite Ballroom
Ethics Jeopardy
Moderator: Jerry C. Alexander, Passman & Jones, P.C.
Panelists:
Lisbeth M. Bulmash, Mediators360
Coyt Johnston, Johnston  Tobey, P.C.
Raymond E. LaDriere II, Locke Lord LLP
2015 Bench Bar Program Draft as of 5/21/2015
Judge Irma Ramirez, U.S. Magistrate Judge
9:05 - 10:05 a.m.
Granite Ballroom
What Did the Jury Say? Feedback from the Judges
Moderator: Barry Sorrels, Sorrels, Udashen & Anton
Panelists:
Judge D'Metria Benson, County Court at Law No. 1
Judge Elizabeth D. Frizell, Criminal District Court No. 7
Judge Jim Jordan, 160th District Court
10:05 - 10:15 a.m.
Granite Foyer
Break
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.
Granite Ballroom
Michael Morton Act Recap
Jacqueline S. Cooper, Cooper & Scully, P.C.
Diana L. Faust, Cooper & Scully, P.C.
11:05 -11:50 a.m.
Granite Ballroom
A Chat with Justice Willett
Tune in as Supreme Court of Texas blogger Don Cruse and Justice Willett discuss
variety of topics relevant to the Court
Justice Don Willett, Supreme Court of Texas
Don Cruse, Law Office of Don Cruse
12:00 Noon
Salons F-H
Lunch
1:00 p.m.
Meet at Gift Shop
Sporting Clays
RECREATION
Meet at Clay Courts by Pool
Tennis
Apple Rock Golf Course
GOLF
Apple Rock Course designed by Robert Trent Jones
Chair: Lindsay Goodner, Russell & Wright, PLLC
Check in at Hotel Entrance
WINE TOUR
Ride the bus to William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas and taste
Texas-grown premium wine from estate-run vineyards across the state
Chair: Clark Will, Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser, P.C.
sponsored by Sayles Werbner
Cedar Room
GAME PLAN
Join others for a variety of board games designed to evoke laughter, spark
discussion, and more
Chair: Ryan McFarlin, The McFarlin Law Firm
2015 Bench Bar Program Draft as of 5/21/2015
Spa
YOGA
Chair: Lis Bulmash, Mediators 360
Friday Evening
6:00 p.m.
Granite Foyer
Reception
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Granite Ballroom
Dinner and Sports Honors
8:30 p.m.
Paseo Villa 3100
Hospitality Suite open
Saturday, October 3
7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Lantana Grill
Breakfast