celebrations

HCCLA 12th Annual Reading: Declaration of Independence

July 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

Houston, Texas – July 1, 2021 – In celebration of Independence Day, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) is holding its 12th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Friday, July 2 at 12:00 pm outside the courthouse in person at 1115 Congress Street, Houston, Texas.

Members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) will also be holding readings in front of courtrooms across the state. “We are proud to emphasize the patriotism associated with Independence Day,” said TCDLA President Grant Scheiner of Houston. “TCDLA recognizes the Declaration of Independence as a bedrock document that not only liberated the colonies but eventually led to the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the American rule of law—concepts criminal defense lawyers use every day to protect individual liberties in courthouses across the land.”

HCCLA President Joe Vinas said, “HCCLA is honored to continue, for the 12^th consecutive year, its annual reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Harris County courthouse. It serves as a reminder to all about the sacred rights our founders fought and died for when establishing this great nation. Because of HCCLA leaders like Robb Fickman, this honored tradition has spread to all 254 counties in Texas, across the nation, and in some foreign countries around the world.”

The Reading of the Declaration of Independence by criminal defense lawyers is an annual tradition started by past president Robert Fickman. “We read the Declaration annually as a reminder that the fight against tyranny is a never-ending battle. We must always fight those who would rob us of our liberty,” said Fickman.

The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States, and contains within its text the fundamental truths and unalienable rights that typify and embody the American way of life: …that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Please join us in honoring our nation’s most sacred document in the spirit of independence:

When: Friday, July 2, 2021
Where: Harris County Family Law Center
1115 Congress Street, Houston, Texas 77002
(southwest lawn of the courthouse)
Time: 12:00 PM

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is the largest local criminal defense bar in the United States with more than 700 active members.

Click here for more information about the history of the Readings and photos

###

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

June 29, 2018 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Doug Murphy, HCCLA President
(713) 229-8333 or email

9th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Houston, Texas – June 29, 2018 – In celebration of Independence Day, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) is holding its 9th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Tuesday, July 3 at 12:00 pm outside of the Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin Street.

HCCLA President Doug Murphy said, “The Declaration of Independence signifies what truly makes America great. The Declaration is not full of empty promises, but these Declarations ultimately became guarantees of liberty, freedom, equality and justice for all.”

The Reading of the Declaration of Independence by criminal defense lawyers is an annual tradition started by past president Robert Fickman. He has also coordinated with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) to hold more than 100 readings in front of courthouses across the state, including one in front of the Tornillo immigrant minor detention camp near El Paso, Texas.

“Our annual reading of the Declaration comes at a critical time in our nation’s history. Our reading is a reminder that as Americans we cherish liberty, and we reject tyranny in any form,” said Fickman.

Please join us in honoring our nation’s most sacred document in the spirit of independence:

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is the largest local criminal defense bar in the United States with more than 700 active members.

For more information about the history of the readings and photos, visit here:

###

HCCLA 2018 Award Winners

March 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association wishes to congratulate this year’s outstanding award recipients in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement, Lawyer of the Year, Torch of Liberty, Unsung Hero, and Mentor of the Year. Each will be honored at the 48th HCCLA Annual Banquet during our awards presentations on May 10, 2018 at the Houston Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas Avenue, Houston, 77002. Please join us in celebrating their achievements. Make your reservations!

For more information:
HCCLA.org/banquet

Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor

July 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

As Free and Independent States, Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

July 1, 2016: 7th Annual Reading

13568965_10209814035728923_6788006740175251607_o

Nicole DeBorde

In this 240th celebration of the Declaration of Independence, we again assembled to pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. In this our 7th annual reading, we stood together to renew our vigor and remind those in power that their power will be checked. As a local activist organization, we, the members of HCCLA, stood together and renewed our promises to our clients and colleagues. We will be the ones who stand against tyranny. We will be the ones who daily fight for individual freedoms and rights so that all will be protected.

13585067_10209814030648796_4140520943008753659_o

Robert Pelton

In a day where our judiciary thinks they are part of the home team, prosecution and law enforcement, we are the ones who stand to remind them governments can be overthrown. Governments are instituted among men and derive their powers from the consent of the governed. It is not government who decides right or wrong. It is the people. And whenever government becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.

13528214_10209815701450565_469484806898748717_o

Robert Fickman and Tyler Flood

We are fortunate to have started this great tradition which has now spread across Texas and is gaining national and even international momentum. Many thanks to Robert Fickman for leading the statewide effort and securing readings in each and every of Texas’ 254 counties.

13568972_10209815701930577_964517688173418455_o

Bob Rosenberg

Our history is reflected in a short synopsis of our years. And we hope to continue to grow our symbolic stand against the abuses in our system.

Additional thanks to Bob Rosenberg who tirelessly assists each year, not only with our reading but with photographs to document.

We’d also like to thank those judges and public officials who were able to attend and share our experience: Judge Kristin Guiney, Justice Marc Brown, Judge Ryan Patrick, Judge Jay Karahan, and District Clerk Chris Daniel. Judges Stacey Bond, Mike Fields, and Maria Jackson sent their regrets.

13528621_10209814025168659_5879567924820768178_o

Steve Halpert

Special thanks to ABC 13 and Jaime Zamora for livestreaming our event! Check out some video HERE

13575728_10209815706530692_4744175110202606565_o

Earl Musick

13569008_10208143268114203_1520192290901729037_o

JoAnne Musick

13522897_10209814020568544_4263493930122245706_o

Romy Kaplan, George Parnham, Mary Conn, Jay Cohen

13576707_10209814020608545_3839868560446309170_o

Alex Bunin, Chris Tritico

13558640_10209814022448591_5745210415678297805_o

John Raley, Nicole DeBorde, JoAnne Musick

13528282_10209815710850800_7274166010894144556_o

Vivian King, Robert Fickman

13576652_10209815709770773_4818968170706457163_o

Robert Pelton, JoAnne Musick, Danny Easterling

Media from our event:

Click2Houston carries the full video of the event HERE

ABC13 Coverage HERE

Breitbart – Texas Lawyers Celebrate in Every County by Reading Declaration of Independence: Started with HCCLA

Texas News quotes member Tom Berg

International Readings by our Members:

Enjoy members Ken and Judy Mingledorff reading in Prague on behalf of HCCLA

Member Brent Mayr reading on the steps of the Palazzo Publico taken from the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. The relative significance of this location to the Declaration is two-fold. First, the Palazzo was home to one of the first forms of republican government outside of Rome. Second, and more importantly, painted on the walls inside are two famous frescos, The Allegory of Good Government and The Allegory of Bad Government. In The Allegory of Good Government, the central character is guided by Faith, Hope, and Charity, while conferring with the proper virtues necessary for a proper and just ruler: Peace, Fortitude, Prudence, Magnanimity, Temperance and Justice. Appropriately, Justice is depicted balancing the scales held by Wisdom. On the other hand, in The Allegory of Bad Government, the central figure is a demonish looking character with horns and fangs depicting Tyranny. Surrounding him are characters representing Cruelty, Deceit, Fraud, Fury, Division, and War.

Declaration Reading Statewide!

June 6, 2016 Leave a Comment

What started with HCCLA has now grown into a statewide mission due to the continued efforts of our own Robert Fickman, HCCLA past president.

Timeline:

2010 – Robb started this tradition in Harris County for HCCLA

2011 – Robb started organizing readings statewide for TCDLA

2012 – Robb took it nationwide (and continued growing it statewide)

2013 – 52 readings across Texas

2014 – 74 readings across Texas

2015 – 139 readings across Texas

2016 – 254 readings across Texas – if you didn’t know, 254 represents every county in Texas!

Robb Fickman grew up in Midland Texas and moved to Houston to finish high school and then to Austin where he got his degree in political science. He then came back to Houston and attended the University of Houston Law School. Robb had an interest in the law and like many other members saw an opportunity to help those who could not help themselves. Robb never worked as a prosecutor and always has done his best to protect the rights of those citizens who are accused of crimes.

Robb is also mindful of the history of the United States and in 2010 organized the 1st reading of the Declaration of Independence in Harris County. In 2011, this event went statewide with lawyers reading in many counties. In 2012, lawyers started reading nationwide. In 2013, 2014, and 2015 the mission and reach continued to grow.

Now in 2016, thanks to Robb’s unrelenting efforts the Declaration of Independence will be read on the courthouse steps in every county in Texas. Managing 254 counties requires a lot of time and effort and for this Lawyer Fickman deserves our thanks and gratitude.

Our country is in a state of turmoil now and events like this emphasize to the public the importance of the laws and rules we follow in the United states of America. As July 4 approaches be aware of what Lawyer Fickman and many others will be doing by publicly reading this historic document. You too can join us on Friday, July 1st on the Harris County Criminal Justice Center’s steps for our reading. Lawyer Fickman is not a soldier fighting on a battlefield, but he is doing something that will inspire our citizens and remind them that we still live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Happy Constitution Day

September 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
Celebrates Constitution Day

September 17th is Constitution Day, and this year HCCLA began a new tradition of celebrating our United States Constitution with a public reading of the Preamble and Amendments. HCCLA also provided commemorative pocket constitutions for attendees and passersby.

This event is modeled after our celebration and reading of the Declaration of Independence with occurs each 4th of July and was started by Past President Robert Fickman.

Special thanks to member Grant Scheiner for the inspiration for this event and to Grant, Philip Gommels, Jennifer Gaut, and Gemayel Haynes for organizing this celebration.

Thank you to the following lawyers for participating in the reading of the United States Constitution Preamble and Amendments:

JoAnne Musick – Preamble
Grant Scheiner* – 1^st Amendment
Danny Easterling – 2^nd Amendment
Dyan Owens – 3^rd Amendment
Gemayel Haynes – 4^th Amendment
Jen Gaut & Lydia Johnson – 5^th Amendment
Phil Gommels – 6^th Amendment
Andrew Wright – 7^th Amendment
Robb Fickman– 8^th Amendment
Lonnie Knowles – 9^th Amendment
Patti Sedita – 10^th Amendment
Alma Garcia – 11^th Amendment
Cheryl Irvin, Ryan Marquez and Alan Macia – 12^th Amendment
Staci Biggars – 13^th Amendment
Michael Wynne – 14^th Amendment, §1
Justin Harris – 14^th Amendment, §2
Wade Smith – 14^th Amendment, §3
Roberto Quijano – 14^th Amendment, §4 (TSU student)
Akeem Ayinde – 14^th Amendment, §5 (TSU Student)

Shout out to the judges who took time to attend and celebrate with us:
Michael McSpadden, Mike Schneider, Brock Thomas, Brad Hart, and Renee Magee (who was out of town but asked her coordinator, Joey DeBruyen, to attend in her absence)

Photos of the event can be found here

Texas Lawyer coverage!

PR: Constitution Day Celebration

August 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: JoAnne Musick, HCCLA President
Office: (832) 448-1148 Cell: (832) 326-8864
email joanne

CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATION
PUBLIC READING OF BILL OF RIGHTS & OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Houston, Texas – August 20, 2015 – Please join the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015 for a brief, public celebration of Constitution Day. HCCLA members will read the Bill of Rights and other Constitutional Amendments on the courthouse steps of the Harris County Criminal Justice Center at 1201 Franklin, Houston, Texas 77002.

This event draws its inspiration from HCCLA’s annual public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which has served as a model for over 100 local criminal defense lawyer organizations engaging in similar yearly readings across Texas.

What: Constitution Day (also known as, “Citizenship Day”) is a federally observed date to commemorate the signing of the United States Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787. As criminal defense lawyers, HCCLA members fight daily to protect the Constitution and its safeguards, many of which are set forth in amendments to this cherished document. HCCLA wishes to remind citizens of the importance of their Constitutional rights, for which so many have sacrificed and some have paid the ultimate price. HCCLA’s public reading of fundamental rights enshrined in Constitutional amendments—including the first ten, known collectively as the “Bill of Rights”—will be a brief and simple gesture which HCCLA hopes the Houston-area media will cover as a public service.

When: 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015. Event should last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Where: Front steps of Harris County Criminal Justice Center (Criminal Courthouse) at 1201 Franklin, Houston, Texas 77002 (corner of Franklin and San Jacinto, downtown Houston).

Who: Event is sponsored by the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, America’s oldest and largest local organization of criminal defense lawyers, with over 750 members. Public reading of Bill of Rights and other Constitutional Amendments will be led by HCCLA President JoAnne Musick. Event co-organizers are Houston attorneys and HCCLA members: Jennifer Gaut, Philip Gommels, Gemayel Haynes and Grant Scheiner.

What Else: Members of the public who attend this event will receive pocket-sized copies of the United States Constitution. For background information on HCCLA, visit www.hccla.org. For historical background on Constitution Day and information about other celebrations, visit the National Constitution Center at: www.constitutioncenter.org/calendar/constitution-day-2015

###

Download (PDF, 67KB)

Free from Tyranny

July 4, 2015 1 Comment

11713762_10207087343963333_5644811668517364144_o On July 2, 2015 members of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association again assembled on the courthouse steps for our annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. Began in 2010 by Robert Fickman, this was our 6th Annual Reading.
Always moving and inspiring, this year we were fortunate to have the added joy of hearing two World War II Veterans, Virgil Poe and Joseph Varela Sr., read with us.

We would like to thank all those in attendance as well as those who participated in the reading.

Readings by:
Virgil Poe, JoAnne Musick, Todd Dupont, Chris Tritico, Paul Schiffer, John Raley, Evan Myers, Carmen Roe, Damon Parrish II, Jason Sosa, Robert Fickman, Joseph Varela Sr. (assisted by his son Joe Varela Jr.), Grant Scheiner, Alex Bunin, Danny Easterling, Justin Harris, Ernesst Bo Hopman, Vivienne Schiffer, Mark Metzger, Drew Prisner, Gemayel Haynes, Sarah Wood, Mike Trent, Paul Kennedy, Robert Pelton, Vivian King, Wade Smith, Paul St. John, Jackie Carpenter, Thuy Le, Alejandro Macias, Philip Gommels, Tristan Legrande, Mary Moore, J. Julio Vela, Mark Bennett, Earl Musick, and Nicolas Hughes.

Special thanks to these judges who attended:
Brad Hart, Jay Karahan, Susan Brown, Kristin Guiney, Robin Brown, Brett Busby, Marc Brown, Brock Thomas, Denise Bradley, Mike Fields, Paula Goodhart, Mary Lou Keel, and Michael Schneider.

Very special thanks to those behind the scenes that make it all happen:
Christina Appelt, Joel Avendano, and Bob Rosenberg (official HCCLA photographer).

Our photos can be found via Bob Rosenberg’s Facebook (public posting) here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

We are proud to have started this tradition and watch it grow across the State of Texas. Joined by TCDLA, Robert Fickman has grown this event to cover more than one-half of Texas Counties. A recap can be found here: http://www.criminaldefensedeclarationreading.com/

Some of our members have blogged their personal experiences:

JoAnne Musick, HCCLA President

Philip Gommels, Board Member

You can view the video of our reading here: https://youtu.be/3Bm55f-FQnI

And lastly, KTRH added a little insight into the practice!

HCCLA 12th Annual Reading: Declaration of Independence

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

9th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

HCCLA 2018 Award Winners