She brought receipts. [2] To escape being charged with murder by Mexican authorities, Roy and Sam Bean fled west to Sonora, Mexico. Were lucky to have both Rod Ponton and Judge Ferguson here with us to offer their, ahem, unfiltered you see what I did there insights into the good, the bad, and the very good-humored insights from this Zoom mishap. For the next year, may you all be here live and #NotaCat." State District Judge (Culberson) With endless customization options and a robust suite of integrations, Assembly Softwares Neos is a powerful, cloud-based platform ideal for todays forward-thinking attorneys. So its been fun to experience the whirlwind and watch the reaction without actually being swept up in the negative aspects of it. Now, my belief is if I had laughed, everyone would have laughed. Read more Proposed development prompts heated talks 4 weeks ago By News Staff The City of Alpine held their regular city council meeting on May 9, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Thank you so much for helping contextualize this for us. That judge, the Judge of Texas 394th Judicial District Court is none other than the Honorable Roy Ferguson. In the past few years, we have had an influx of young attorneys into Alpine, the most populous county seat, who travel among the counties. Rod Ponton: And I think thats why the video resonated around the world so quickly because I think everybody globally they might not have been lawyers on virtual courtroom and Zoom but I think everybody globally has been having to deal with all of this stuff over the last nine months. [5] The bride, who had been hiding behind a tree, cut the rope, freeing him and saving his life. Private funds in-house and external legal teams are stretched thin by growing legal demands. You can also hear the Judge in one of my favorite podcasts of all time. Next we found the secret BBMP Now we have the records for . Even after the election defeat, he "refused to surrender his seal and law book and continued to try all cases north of the tracks". True professionalism all around!". The original owner of the land, who ran a saloon, had sold 640 acres (2.59km2) to the railroad on the condition that no part of the land could be sold or leased to Bean. I love plums. Judge Roy B. Ferguson presides over the 394th District Court, the largest judicial district in Texas. Bean stopped his rival from buying beer at his own saloon and instead had him pay the fine at The Jersey Lilly. Hidden in the final gifts he received while incarcerated were knives that were encased in tamales. And so dont panic when these little things happen because were all doing the same thing in our own way. Judge Roy Ferguson: But I knew it was either going to be an any-cam or many-cam type of video setting or a filter. So, kind of taking that counterargument, how do you kind of strike a balance between humor as a tool and also maybe humor as something destructive? We are still in the pandemic folks and please advise your clients and loved ones to do the same. "I'm here live I'm not a cat." Fortunately the other lawyers in the Zoom call seem to be amused by the filter and Judge Ferguson then begins to explain how to remove the filter. And if you saw the original tweet where I released it, I made clear to people that I did not want this to come out as some sort of mocking of either Mr. Ponton or of Texas lawyers or of virtual . Judge Roy Ferguson shared the video Tuesday from the hearing in the 394th District Court in Texas with a reminder to . This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs on the lives and careers of small-town lawyers. So thats really what I want people to take from it, is we are all continuing to see that justice continues to be done irrespective of what gets thrown at us. ", 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, [pod_component pod_component_config_id="BB1w9H6DA" pod_component_config_url="https://www.thesun.co.uk/nu-sun-pod-component-config-prod/BB1w9H6DA.json" pod_component_config_loader_url="https://www.thesun.co.uk/nu-sun-pod-loaders-prod/1.72.0/componentLoader.js?85621" src="https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-widgets-prod%2Fiframe-pod.html%3Fid%3DBB1w9H6DA%26script%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-loaders-prod%2F1.72.0%2FcomponentLoader.js%3F85621%26config%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-component-config-prod%2FBB1w9H6DA.json"], A lawyer showed up in virtual court in Texas as a cat, Judge Roy Ferguson saw the funny side of the incident. "Happy #LawyerCat day for all who celebrate!! This in particular, were constantly watching the Zoom updates, because when I advise someone, Heres how you fix that problem, Zoom changes things with some regularity; the terminology is different, the link is different, the button is in a different sub-tab. She brought receipts. I thought it was cruel and a perfect example of what not to be on the bench. When the stranger protested, Bean fined him $19.95 for contempt of court and threatened to double the fine if the stranger said another word; the stranger left on a train. After all, he appeared as a cat on the Zoom hearing. In two of these counties, excluding the county attorney, there are no lawyers in local private practice. From the very beginning, when judges were trying to figure out how best to navigate these hearings, we saw differences in the way lawyers and litigants responded in virtual hearings based on the solemnity of the surroundings and the way the judge treats the hearing. Thats happened a few times, lawyers who think theyve exited the room and they havent and they turn and have a conversation with their client about someone in the room or the ruling that they just heard. And I could tell even by looking at the cat that Mr. Ponton was struggling and I knew that at some point, just being human, it was going to get embarrassing or frustrating, and I didnt want that to happen. Find both the State Bar of Texas and Legal Talk Network on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn or download the free app from Legal Talk Network in Google Play and iTunes. So I dont have to worry about the things that Mr. Ponton has to deal with insofar as being recognized and approached. . Unlike in areas where you might only see a particular judge once every few years, you will see a rural judge in every case you take. So, walk us through kind of how you coached Rod, and obviously you knew something about this. They dont expect you to know everything, but they expect you to be able to find out. Cameras in Court . 704 East Holland This page was last edited on 21 June 2023, at 06:24. Some of you listeners may remember the May 14, 2020 episode with David Slayton who is the Administrative Director of that office. Weve lost enough colleagues and people have suffered enough. She brought receipts. We have to keep going with the fact that were in a court. But you know, Id love to hear your perspective as you know, being on that hearing you see, everybodys maintained the solemnity of the situation. (El Paso, Tex.) But then theres a flip side that says sometimes humor can kind of disarm everybody, lower the tensions, and kind of help smooth the way to a more amenable litigation process, if you will. And when he calls the case, the app moves you over from the waiting room into the virtual courtroom to where all the lawyers and the judge are together in the virtual courtroom. I just make sure that theres nothing that can happen in a Zoom hearing that I cant handle. Lawyers are retained based on word-of-mouth. And I want to encourage everyone to please be aware of the people around you, be watching your colleagues and your friends and if you see them struggling, whether it be with anger or alcohol or depression. District Judge 394th Judicial District Court Hon. 'I'm not a cat': Lawyer's hilarious Zoom hearing blunder - Yahoo News Work hard, and success will follow. I mean, as soon as I got them focused back on the problem and less on the panic that washes over you when something like that happens, they immediately had it fixed. Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Rocky Dhir: I think we can kind of glean your answer to this next question Rod and Judge, Ill give you a chance to weigh in as well. Rocky Dhir: And so, was it a filter setting on your computer or did you ever figure out how that because in the video I know your assistant was bravely trying to help you navigate through all this, but did you ever figure out what caused it? Feel free toemail any tips, questions, or comments. Im here live. Roy Bean was born circa 1825 in Mason County, Kentucky, and was the youngest of five children (four sons and a daughter) of Phantly Roy Bean Sr. (November 21, 1804 June 13, 1844) and the former Anna Henderson Gore. Now if you like what you heard today, please rate and review us in Apple Podcast, Google Podcast or your favorite podcast app. Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Third-Party Standing Issue Takes Center Stage in $220M Insurance Dispute. There are not sufficient numbers of attorneys in the area. [2] Samuel Gore "Sam" Bean (18191903), who had earlier migrated to Independence, Missouri, was a teamster and bullwhacker. You will be given countless opportunities to help those in need and the community at large. Lawyer uses Zoom cat filter in virtual court: 'I'm not a cat' - TODAY [2] He was also known for his unusual rulings. And other lawyers are saying that I may have single-handedly repaired the reputation of the legal profession because so often its something negative, you know? Roy B. Ferguson, Judge 394th Judicial District Court . Intro: Welcome to the State Bar of Texas Podcast, your monthly source for conversations and curated content to improve your law practice, with your host, Rocky Dhir. Above the Law Top 50 Law School Rankings Are Out, See the List Here. (A fun story .) Rocky Dhir: Lets turn back to you for a second, Rod, with for those of us who have seen the video, I guess it looks like you werent aware of the filter being on until Judge Ferguson pointed it out to you. No, Rod, who is in his third term as County Attorney for Presidio County, Texas, is taking it all in incredible stride. And so, before we had even selected Zoom, we, this little group, was working together trying different pieces of software to see what would work. So thank you both and you know before we close out, I do want to give a shout out to the Texas Office of Court Administration in Austin. Site Map, Advertise| I think it might have been from the third or second week of March, where I did one for my local lawyers. "I was using her. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. During the Battle of Glorieta Pass in March 1862, the Confederates lost their supply wagons and were forced to retreat to San Antonio. Rocky Dhir: And what would you want lawyers to kind of take away from all this? Rural communities want someone who shoots straight and works hard. Rocky Dhir: Okay, so you knew before. Im happy that they managed to do what they did and theyre trying so hard. A Texas Ranger requested that a local law jurisdiction be set up in Vinegaroon, and on August 2, 1882, Bean was appointed justice of the peace for the new Precinct6 in Pecos County. A new board, the Alpine Emergency Services Board, colloquially referred to as the Alpine Fire department, has been established to oversee the emergency services for the area. Do not align yourself politically with the people or persons in power in the hopes of speeding your ascension. But the question really is what do you want lawyers in particular to kind of take away from this situation? Remember, $150,000 to a Dallas corporation creates less of an impact than $10,000 to a small-town resident. [2] The family lived in what was described as "a poverty-stricken Mexican slum area called Beanville". Talk About Lip Sinking: Jersey judge finds out the dangers of lip-syncing while robed. Todays leaders are tomorrows pariahs. And were working hard to do it. Can you imagine it? (El Paso, Tex.) About Us| https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2021/01/08/judge-renews-vow-to-uphold-law-after-capitol-hill-riots-asks-lawyers-to-do-the-same/. So I had no reason to believe this would be any different. I didnt know how to put a filter on the Zoom or remove it, but thankfully, Judge Ferguson knows those things and he walked me through the steps to find the filter app and click the link to remove the filter. [2] For the next twenty years, Bean lived in San Antonio, working nominally as a teamster. P.C. It is a filter setting on that computer. Judge Ferguson is no stranger to this podcast having appeared twice in two different episodes from our coverage of the State Bar Annual Meeting in 2019. And if they dont know how to do it or simply arent comfortable, they have brought someone in like a virtual bailiff or a coordinator, who can do this in the background. Judge Roy Ferguson opens virtual proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas on Zoom this week, but is not expecting to see two lawyers and a kitten. LexisNexis and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. So again, please check out that episode and if you get a chance, please send them your love and please send them your smile emojis. Despite the @Zoom audio glitch, this lawyer's professionalism never wavered. The community must trust you not only to work hard for them but also to treat them fairly. I dont know as we sit here today, but Ill find out and then well both know, is a powerful phrase. Girls, 2 and 3, 'traumatised' after escaped guard dog savaged them on way back from nursery with mum in Birmingham, Covid-19 linked to NEW set of common symptoms, docs warn, Estate agent popped four viagra pills then attacked girl he met on dating app and slashed her mate with samurai sword, Covid-hit British Airways passenger allowed to fly to UK after rapid 30-minute swab tested NEGATIVE, Shannon Matthews documentary - Cops 'bonded like brothers' after finding missing schoolgirl, adorable kitten filter during the hearing on Zoom. Keynote Speaker William Barr (State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023), The Daytrippers Chet Garner at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023, Post-Pandemic Court Proceedings (State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023), Radical Ways to Improve Law Firm Culture (State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023), Understanding Professional Sports Leagues Personal Conduct Policies and Disciplinary Processes (State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023), Bench Bar Breakfast (State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023). Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms financials, staffing, clients, news and events. 7. Rod Ponton: And Rocky as a follow-up to what the judge was saying. ", Ferguson then responded: "I can hear you, I think it's a filter. Im in the former category. Weve been doing a virtual courtroom for about nine months because of COVID. Rod Ponton: And although at first it was sort of a hassle of trying to get up to speed because of the huge distances involved in Judge Fergusons district, it sort of made things more convenient as far as less travel. Frank Stevenson receives Dallas Bar Foundations 2023 Fellows Justinian Award, Texas Bar Journal announces 2023 Short Story Contest winners, State Bar of Texas Board of Directors to meet June 21-22 in Austin, Texas Access to Justice Commission renews statewide legal clinic initiative for Texas veterans, Pilot program to offer attorney parking cards for Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility. 1. Bean later worked as a butcher, rustling unbranded cattle from other area ranchers for his business. By Jenna Greene. A bar and restaurant on West 56th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City is named the "Judge Roy Bean Public House". The more comfortable people are with you, the more likely they are to tell you their troubles and ask for your advice. Rocky Dhir: There but for the grace of Zoom go lie, I guess might be another way to think of it. We are seeking a lawyer with a minimum of four years of experience in transactional work to join our well-established, nationally renowned C We are seeking an attorney to join our commercial finance practice in either our Stamford, Hartford or New Haven offices. How do you think and why do you think everybody kind of held fast and kept everything so dignified? At any rate, you might think that Rod Ponton is a bit miffed, that his 39-year legal career is being seemingly overshadowed by a Zoom filter, but he isnt, and his career is certainly not being overshadowed. The assault charge was filed for Brenda Berenice Casias . It's up to the school to make sure all of the formal things . So there cannot be even a kernel of cruelty at the heart of humor in the courtroom. Do not join charitable organizations for marketing purposes. Virtual courts should be made a permanent option in Texas Your user agent does not support the HTML5 Audio element. Roy Ferguson Ponton's purrfectly-synced kitten filter replied "Ahhh" in a thinly-disguised version of his heavy Texan accent. Aplomb is especially important when the truly unexpected happens, just as it did on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Column-In 2021, we were all Zoom cat lawyer: Greene - Yahoo Finance A railroad contractor named Howard who had some law training was brought into court and read from the latest revised law statutes; Bean remitted the fine but rendered a verdict that no law books were to be brought into his court. The Honorable Roy B. Ferguson - Children's Commission The video was shared by Texas judge Roy Ferguson, who commended the lawyer for his 'incredible grace' Since the incident, Rod Ponton, the lawyer in question, has fielded calls from around the . And so, weve been doing it and figuring out Zoom. And so, you know, there are people, they have terrible names for it. Criminal defense is also important in the 394th, which contains over 400 miles (20-plus percent) of the U.S.-Mexico border. After Sam fought in the MexicanAmerican War, he moved out of San Antonio, where his brother Roy joined him. Every time we get together, something unexpected happens and the lawyers need to know that looking perfect, sounding perfect is not the goal. [2], Considered handsome, Bean competed for the attentions of various local women. And if we try to break that by personalizing it, weve interfered with their ability to do the job that they are prepared to do for the judge or the jury. Roy B. Ferguson and his attorney wife, Pene, started their careers in Houston, but in 1999, they moved almost 600 miles to one of the state's least-populated regions, a place with high-desert vistas of the Davis Mountains and Big Bend where both of them have family roots. In 2021, he did the unforgivable: Weve all seen it! Family law and real estate are the most common legal needs of citizens on the civil litigation side. So I cant tell you exactly which one it was because they were so quick in resolving the problem, I never went back to figure out which one of the two options solved it. After Joshua was murdered in November 1852, Bean inherited the saloon. I can tell the judge has a tremendous respect for you, then this happens and it goes viral. So that I hear it and the client hears it and YouTube hears it. No, Im not asking about how you feel about a plum. Im referring to aplomb, which Merriams Dictionary defines as complete and confident composure or self-assurance.. So, I just wanted to leave everybody with that. You care for the community, and fight for justice. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, Legislative Agencies, Boards and Commissions, Judicial Agencies, Boards and Commissions. And so, that was probably the longest 42 seconds of my legal career. And so I try to maintain the serious ambiance of the courthouse in the virtual courtroom. State District Judge (Hudspeth) Lawyer tells judge 'I'm not a cat' after a Zoom filter mishap in I think its safe to say that you upheld the dignity of the entire process, which I dont know that a lot of other judges or lawyers would have been able to do. And so, the point where I stopped the video is right when I came on camera. If you are committed to winning, maximizing client recovery, and impro An announcement in the NJLJ pertaining to our new class of Law Clerks that just started with the Firm. Ponton, youve got a filter on. So you knew before that, you could see it and figure out something was going on? "It is crucial that this not be used to mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community's dedication to the cause of justice. has to tell judge he's not a cat - Sky News Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? And so, when I got moved from the waiting room to the virtual courtroom, miraculously I reappeared as a cat, to my great consternation, I should add. The District encompasses approx. But still, we are in a courtroom, even though its virtual even though its on Zoom and we didnt need to stop and start falling down on the floor and laughing on the video any more than we would in person if we were in court. [2][8] Bean did not allow hung juries or appeals. //]]> Your reputationpersonal and professionaldetermines your level of success. Copyright 2023 Alpine Avalanche. (A fun story .) Customer Service| In the episode "Law West of the Pecos" (June 7, 1959) of the, Roy Bean's House of Justice and Jelly Beans in the comedy adventure video game. Rod Ponton: Thank you Rocky and thank you for having me. In 1882, hundreds of judges and lawyers gathered in Galveston to establish the Texas Bar Association, a volunteer organization. Certainly, no one expected this to resonate the way it has. Jeff D. Leach. So I try not to put them in that position where they feel like they have to laugh because then their laugh is actually mocking me and not laughing at the joke. Soon after, Roy Bean shot and killed a Mexican desperado who had threatened "to kill a gringo". It eats at people, and finally, there get that dispute in front of me after years of getting ready. Local power figures come and go, but you want your professional success to last a lifetime. Judge Roy Ferguson: And so the framing of the video was crucial. My decision early on was that I was going to make this exactly like the in-person courtroom in the courthouse. Screenshot of Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th District Court in Texas reacted to this week's Capitol Hill riot by holding a ceremony for Texas attorneys to renew their lawyer's oath to uphold. Judge Roy Ferguson: Every hearing, we help with the technical glitch, whether its audio, video connection, who knows. But in addition, Ive gotten some comments from some pretty powerful lawyers saying that theyre so happy that theres something about the legal profession that came out that was positive. Faced with hearing legal debate from a kitten, Judge Roy Ferguson of Texas's 394th judicial district told Ponton: "I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings. H's atty: Objection! And when you appear in front of Judge Ferguson on Zoom, you log into the site. A smile and a wave, or a quick friendly word at the post office, is fantastic marketing. How did you manage to keep your wits about you and and not panic? And lawyers from Odessa and El Paso travel the two hours for cases that justify the cost. Cameras in Court (@SusanBassi) / Twitter The other attorney in the Zoom room, Jerry L. Phillips, meanwhile tried to suppress his smile at the odd situation. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas. Be patient, and let people talk. He is an avid proponent of equal access to justice for all Texans, and a frequent . Im not a cat.". "Oh, that was just a mistake by my secretary," he said. Go to Texasbar.com/podcast, subscribe via Apple Podcast and RSS. Rod Ponton: Right, from that, at that particular moment I saw something was there and thats when I had alerted my assistant to try to help me get rid of it. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. What should we as a profession take away from this? [18], Bean died peacefully in his bed on March 16, 1903, after a bout of heavy drinking in San Antonio. The viral Cat Lawyer video brought the world a collective laugh, but, those on the screen somehow kept their cool in the midst of this absurdly humorous situation. Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021 Ponton told Vice the minor cat-tastrophe wasn't his fault. [2] Both men were arrested and charged with assault with intent to murder. Both options are priced the same. Hard Work Out West | Texas Bar Blog Is it something else? Rocky Dhir: So Rod, Id love to hear from you and I apologize for letting the judge go first because thats a tough act to follow. Judge. Rocky Dhir: You mentioned earlier this was the longest 42 seconds of your legal career. And so we would not have had this wonderful moment of levity and reflection had it not been for that office. Judge Roy Ferguson and his wife Pene. Show this thread. By the spring of 1882, he had established a small saloon near the Pecos River in a tent city he named Vinegaroon. Six Goranson Bain Ausley Family Lawyers Selected to Austin Monthlys 2023 Top At Criminal Defense Attorneys Get a Boost from AI with Casify and ChatGPT, James Lane joins SEDA Experts Private Equity Expert Witness Practice. Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?Subscribe Now. In another, there is one lawyer in full-time local private practice other than the county attorney. Not in a positive way, several experts say. The nearest court was 120 miles (190km) away at Fort Stockton, and there were few means to stop illegal activity. But, Judge, I want to ask a quick follow-up, and that is, you know, maybe this opens up a broader topic or a broader discussion about the role of humor, not only in the courtroom, but in the legal profession. He gave a very thorough and thoughtful response. Although only district courts were legally allowed to grant divorces, Bean did so anyway, and pocketed $10 for each divorce. Is it the role of humor? Lawyers might try to take steps to avoid risks and liability in how they run their practices, but this can have an adverse impact on clients. Jurors, who were chosen from his best bar customers, were expected to buy a drink during every court recess. If you are perceived as unscrupulous, you will get clients who expect you to do anything to win. Im Rocky Dhir, signing off for now. So, it is tricky. Sorry, I had to throw in a cat pun in there somewhere. Love The Way You Lie: Zillow experts, among others, are spreading misinformation about the Courts last term. All Rights Reserved. So, everybodys had to struggle with it and this is just at the very peak of all the struggles that everybodys had trying to live their professional lives and personal lives online and via Zoom and Skype and everything else. Judge Roy Ferguson. Give them a realistic expectation of outcome, and then if they demand better, send them to a competitor. Bean refused to send the state any part of the fines, and kept all of the money. They will put their families, their businesses, and their homes in your hands. There are many Judges who have been sanctioned for attempted humor in the courtroom. My legal assistants half-joked that not a day went by that someone didnt cry in my conference room. It was not uncommon to spend an hour with an elderly person who received a spam email, telling her that she had won a nonexistent lottery, or explaining to someone that a bill collector could not have them arrested or take their house no matter what they claimed on the phone.