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PR: HCCLA 10th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

June 26, 2019 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Neal Davis
, HCCLA President
(713) 227-4444 or email: neal@nealdavislaw.com

10th ANNUAL READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Houston, Texas – June 28, 2019 – In celebration of Independence Day, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) is holding its 10th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 12:00 pm outside of the Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin Street.

HCCLA President Neal Davis said, “While our Declaration of Independence is over 200 years old, it continues to be part of our DNA as Americans. It is also a reminder that liberty is an inalienable right and that the government’s power comes from us, the governed. The rights found in the Declaration do not come easily; they must be fought for and enforced every day in our great nation. Many in the criminal justice system, from police to prosecutors to judges, frequently need to be reminded that we are all equal and they work for all of us. It is a testament that not only has the Declaration endured this long, but has become a blueprint for developing democracies around the world.”

The Reading of the Declaration of Independence by criminal defense lawyers is an annual tradition started in 2010 by attorney Robert Fickman, HCCLA Past President. This year, he has coordinated with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) to hold similar criminal defense lawyer readings in front of more than 140 courthouses across the state.

“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. “We are not a nation that embraces the rule of a king. If we wanted a king, our Founding Fathers would not have risked their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Sacred Honor so that we might all be free.”

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:     Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Where:    Harris County Criminal Justice Center
1201 Franklin Street, Houston, Texas 77002
(Front steps 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 600 active members.

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

https://hccla.org/declaration

Filed Under: declaration of independence, press release Tagged With: declaration of independence

PR: HCCLA Does Not Support the DA’s Request for 100 New Prosecutors

February 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Doug Murphy, HCCLA President
713-229-8333 office, email Doug Murphy

Houston, Texas—February 12, 2012—The following letter was submitted to the Harris County Judge and Commissioners:

Download (PDF, 474KB)

 

Filed Under: press release

Sentencing Juveniles

November 15, 2018 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston, TX :: November 15, 2018

Alan Nickerson on trial (2007 © Houston Chronicle)

Joint Letter to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg:

Download (PDF, 308KB)

Related image

Filed Under: press release, prosecutors Tagged With: Alan Nickerson, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Campaign for Youth Justice, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Kim Ogg, Lone Star Justice Alliance, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition

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.

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:

 

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:

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Filed Under: celebrations, declaration of independence, justice, press release Tagged With: declaration of independence, press release, Tornillo

HCCLA Supports Public Defender Alex Bunin

June 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Doug Murphy, HCCLA President
713-229-8333 office, email Doug Murphy

Houston, Texas – June 11, 2018 – Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack recently called for an investigation on the Harris County Public Defender Alex Bunin to determine if he wrongfully used his office in assisting the litigants who have successfully sued Harris County for their unlawful bail practices. A federal judge declared the practices unlawful for discriminating against the poor. 

Harris County so far spent over $6 million dollars in their unsuccessful defense of these unlawful practices. The call for an investigation by Commissioner Radack is nothing more than a diversionary tactic and waste of further county resources that will reveal only one thing: Alex Bunin has an independent duty to protect and defend the indigent—an inherent duty of a public defender—even if that duty is at odds with Harris County. This obligation and duty may be offensive to Commissioner Radack, but spending $6 million dollars defending illegal bail practices should be offensive to Harris County residents. 

In 2010, the Harris County Bar, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, the Harris County Commissioners, and the Advisory Board of the Public Defenders all came together to support the first ever creation of the Harris County Public Defender’s office. The search for the first Harris County Public Defender was the result of a nationwide search for the finest combination of legal acumen, proven ability to build a defender’s office, and commitment to providing the best defense for the public possible. All parties unanimously agreed that Alex Bunin was the perfect choice because of his stellar reputation earned by spending a lifetime defending the indigent accused throughout the country. 

Harris County has benefitted from the finest criminal defense legal talent ever assembled under one roof since Alex Bunin was hired. Under his leadership, the Harris County Public Defender’s Office has had an enormous impact on day to day criminal justice in Houston. 

The mental health division has significantly lessened the average stay in custody of the mentally ill in our criminal justice system, saving the county money while making the system more humane. The juvenile division has provided a striking contrast of professionalism to the crony system that had been the norm in the juvenile courts. The trial division has fought some of the most difficult cases in our system, including habitual offenders and those accused of sex crimes, with skill, zeal and most importantly, full resources for investigation and mitigation of any punishment. This team approach has already helped influence and improve our appointed counsel system. The appellate division, under his guidance, has helped change the law in our state, and has worked to integrate itself into trials smoothly, another first for our country.

Alex Bunin built the Harris County Public Defender’s Office with integrity, hard work, and outstanding leadership. The talented lawyers whom he personally recruited came because of him, and they stay because of him. The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association supports continuing Alex Bunin as a true “Public Defender” of Harris County.

Download (PDF, 163KB)

Filed Under: press release

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

Filed Under: celebrations, press release Tagged With: annual awards, banquet, civil rights corps, connie williams, damon parrish, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, hccla, patrick mccann, Robert Fickman, sam adamo, scott pawgan, skip cornelius, susman godfrey llp, texas fair defense project

PR: HCCLA Renews Request for Criminal Investigation of Former Prosecutor

March 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Tucker Graves, HCCLA President
(713) 225-4273

 

HCCLA Renews Request for Criminal Investigation of Former Prosecutor

Houston, Texas – March 12, 2018 – The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) has called on Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg to appoint a special or pro tem prosecutor—either an elected official from a neighboring county, or a prosecutor appointed by the office of the Administrative Judge of the Harris County District Courts—to investigate the actions surrounding the prosecution of Alfred Dewayne Brown by the District Attorney’s Office.

The law must apply to all. When prosecutors and investigators conceal evidence and deliberately intimidate witnesses, misuse grand juries, and knowingly ask for death for an innocent man, they must answer for it as any other citizen would.

Letter to Hon. Kim Ogg (below):

Download (PDF, 466KB)

.

Filed Under: press release Tagged With: alfred brown, former prosecutor, innocent

PR: Abuse of Power at Guantanamo Military Tribunals

November 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tucker Graves, HCCLA President 713-225-4273, email Tucker Graves

HCCLA Condemns Guantanamo Judge’s Actions 

Houston, Texas – November 6, 2017 – On behalf of our former member Ms. Rosa Eliades and the other attorneys representing those at the Guantanamo Military Tribunals:

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) condemns in the strongest possible terms this abuse of power by the military tribunal judge Colonel  Vance Spath in Guantanamo. The notion that the military will not only violate every acceptable norm of a fair defense and then compel the defense attorneys to participate in what they know to be a sham by threat of incarceration is as fundamental a threat to the Constitution as one could find.  The threat of incarceration against civilians for exercising their right of protest at the military tribunal’s continuing efforts to conduct flawed trials is a serious and grave breach of due process and the right to counsel.  If the military can compel lawyers to violate their oaths as attorneys or face imprisonment, then who is next?

The defense counsel for Mr. Al Nashiri should have their orders of confinement and appearance vacated at once.  The government should either find new counsel for this man or acknowledge that it has no business trying these individuals and turn them over to a proper federal court for a real trial.  We salute the Marine Brigadier General Baker, Rick Kamen, Ms. Eliades and all the others striving to provide a real trial to those held unlawfully in Guantanamo and elsewhere in the world.

 

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

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Filed Under: press release

PR: Harris County Criminal Court Suggestions Post-Harvey

September 5, 2017 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tucker Graves, HCCLA President 713-225-4273 office, email Tucker Graves

Houston, Texas – September 5, 2017 – The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, which represents Harris County’s criminal-defense bar, the largest organization of participants in the Harris County criminal justice system, suggests the following to help ensure a safe, functioning, and fair criminal justice system for the people of Harris County in the wake of the destruction rendered by Hurricane Harvey:

  1. Judges should be uniform in their policies to provide predictability to the bar and the public. Nobody should have to learn which of 38 different policies apply to his or her case.
  2. Defendants with counsel should be allowed resets of at least ninety days between court appearances. Hurricane Harvey is going to have a huge financial toll on our county; the lost productivity of the accused attending multiple unnecessary court appearances would only compound this toll.
  3. Bond conditions such as ignition interlock and SCRAM devices should be used minimally.
  4. Pretrial intervention and other diversionary programs should not rely on the Court Services Department or the Community Supervision and Corrections Department. These agencies are going to be overburdened already, and their participation in such programs is not (and has not historically been) necessary.
  5. Electronic filing should be speedily implemented. The less physical resources the system needs, the better for all involved.
  6. The cases of defendants in custody should be prioritized. We recognize that this catastrophe may affect defendants’ ability to get their cases quickly resolved; those who are unable to make bail should not suffer the extraordinary consequences of this storm any more than is necessary.
  7. Lawyers should be appointed to indigent defendants at the bail hearing or initial appearance. Court coordinators should select appointed counsel promptly upon an indigency determination, and contact that counsel immediately so that they can begin working for the accused.
  8. Bail amounts should be lowered, except in extraordinary cases, to take into account the financial drain that the people of Harris County are already suffering from destroyed property and a kneecapped economy.
  9. Those arrestees who are constitutionally entitled to reasonable bail should be released expeditiously and allowed to appear with counsel. Scarce jail and court resources should not be clogged with people who don’t need to be there.
  10. Court-appointed counsel should be paid on interim vouchers. Those defending indigents accused have expenses that are not going to be put on hold. They cannot wait until cases are resolved to be paid.
  11. Defendants with counsel should not be required to appear in court except for a plea or contested hearing. The financial cost to Harris County economy of lost productivity because of court appearances at which defendants’ appearance is required for no good reason has always been huge. This might have been bearable in ordinary times, but during this emergency Harris County needs every productive person working to rebuild.
  12. If weekend or evening dockets are instituted, they should be voluntary. The criminal-defense bar is not opposed to such dockets, and they may work better for some defendants and lawyers, preventing a productivity loss, but some people are unable because of family obligations to attend such dockets.
  13. No bail should be revoked for failure to appear in court until there is a plan in place and the criminal-defense bar has had an opportunity to notify our clients of where they must attend court.

We look forward to working with the bench and the prosecutorial bar to build a system that works even better for the people of our county than it did before the storm.

Houston strong!

(photo by Robert Pelton)

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Filed Under: press release

PR: 8th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

June 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Tucker Graves, HCCLA President 713-225-4273 office

8th ANNUAL READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Houston, Texas – June 27, 2017 – In celebration of Independence Day, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) is holding its 8th Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Friday, June 30 at 11:30 am. This year’s event will be led by Doug Murphy, the association’s president elect, at the Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, Texas.

HCCLA’s reading of the Declaration is an annual tradition that was started by HCCLA Past President, Robert Fickman. This year he has organized similar readings across the state in front of over 115 local courthouses.

HCCLA continues to lead Texas with the largest gathering, boasting over 100 local attorneys, judges and Houstonians in attendance.

The Declaration of Independence is our nation’s most cherished symbol of liberty. This sacred document 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, June 30, 2017
Where:    Harris County Criminal Justice Center
1201 Franklin Street , Houston, Texas (Front steps of the courthouse)
Time:      11:30 AM

 

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:
https://hccla.org/declaration-of-independence-reading

 

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Filed Under: declaration of independence, press release Tagged With: declaration of independence, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

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