The Bench-Bar Relationship: Going the Extra Mile

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This episode highlights Houston judges who go the extra mile to serve the lawyers who practice in their courts and the parties who rely on our justice system to be fair, impartial, and efficient. It is a companion to the Bench-Bar Relationship issue of The Houston Lawyer magazine.

Segment 1: Practice Tips from a Seasoned Federal Judge

Featuring the Hon. Gray H. Miller
Judge Miller provides practice tips based on his 18 years on the federal bench, including tips relating to civility and professionalism.  Most of his tips are applicable to both federal and state-court litigators, and all lawyers will appreciate his discussion of civility in the profession. 

Segment 2: Building a User-Friendly Court

Featuring the Hon. Andrew Edison
Judge Edison addresses various user-friendly court procedures that make litigating easier and more civil for both judges and lawyers.  He also talks about the order he issued over the holidays in 2023 that went viral.

Segment 3: Wellness Break: Run with a Judge

Featuring the Hon. Amparo Guerra and Joshua Upham
Justice Amparo Guerra and HBA Wellness Committee member Joshua Upham discuss the HBA/HYLA Run with a Judge events and the wellness benefits of getting outside and moving. You do not have to be a runner to participate in the Run with a Judge events.

Segment 4: Escaping Afghanistan, Finding a New Home, and Meeting a Helpful Judicial Mentor

Featuring the Hon. April Farris and the Hon. Narges Hafedzada
BTL Interviewer: Mark Yablon
Judge Narges Hafedzada was a judge in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban resuming control of the country. She was instrumental in helping other Afghan judges leave the country and find opportunities elsewhere. When she arrived in Texas, Justice April Farris was appointed to be her judicial mentor and has helped her to find her bearings here in the United States. Judge Hafedzada addresses the prior justice system in Afghanistan, how she was forced to leave her home country because she was a woman judge, and what she is doing now to try to establish a new career in the United States. Justice Farris talks about how mentoring Judge Hafedzada was a wonderful experience. Both lawyers and non-lawyers will be moved by Judge Hafedzada's journey.

Segment 5: Sharing and Seeking Knowledge About Justice Systems

Featuring the Hon. Ravi Sandill 
Judge Sandill discusses his trip to India as part of a delegation of U.S. judges. He talks about some of the differences between the justice systems of India and the United States, what he learned there that he thinks would be helpful to our system, and what he thinks the judges in India learned from the U.S. judges.  

For full speaker bios, visit The Houston Lawyer (hba.org/thehoustonlawyer). To read The Houston Lawyer magazine, visit The Houston Lawyer_home. For more information about the Houston Bar Association, visit Houston Bar Association (hba.org).
*The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board or the Houston Bar Association.