The HBA Appellate Practice Section is the largest local appellate bar in the State of Texas. The section holds a monthly luncheon that provides an opportunity for networking with members of the appellate bar and justices from the Houston Courts of Appeals. Luncheons are well-attended and feature high-quality CLE presentations by appellate judges and leading members of the appellate bar.
The section hosts several social events, including an annual Judicial Reception to honor the justices from the Houston Courts of Appeals and other local members of the judiciary. The section also participates in a variety of charitable and service activities, including CLE scholarships for staff attorneys at the Houston appellate courts, brief writing awards for all three Houston law schools, and administration of a pro bono program designed to provide pro bono counsel to indigent litigants with qualifying cases in the Houston appellate courts.
Read the March 2026 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the October 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the May 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the February 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the October 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the July 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the April 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
Read the November 2023 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here
2025-2026 Section Officers
Chair
Nicholas Bruno, Beck Redden LLP
Chair-Elect
Mark Little, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Secretary
Jane Robinson, Langdell Robinson PLLC
Treasurer
Parth Gejji, Beck Redden LLP
Past Chairs
2024-2025 Chair
Douglas Pritchett, CEC Facilities Group, LLC
2023-2024 Chair
Jillian Schumacher, Daniels & Tredennick PLLC
2022-2023 Chair
Christina Crozier, South Texas College of Law
2021-2022 Chair
Jim Marrow, Wright Close & Barger, LLP
Council Members
Fourth Year Council Member: Ryan Pitts, Haynes & Boone
Third Year Council Member: Kelsi White, AZA
Second Year Council Member: Kelley Morris, Wright Close & Barger
First Year Council Member: Megan Reinkemeyer, Daniels & Tredennick
Member Details:
$40 HBA Members
$45 Non-Members
$30 Government Attorneys
$10 Staff Attorneys, Law Clerks & Judges
$30 Recorded Program Only
Scholarships
$500 to one student from each of the three local law schools. Offered in the fall semester. The legal writing professor must submit the top briefs from the legal writing classes. Scholarship will be awarded to the writer of the best brief from each law school, as judged by section members. To participate, contact Kelsi White (AZA) at (713) 655-1101.
Meetings
$45 with reservation
$50 for walk-in
Contact the Appellate Practice Section for a meeting reservation.
Member Details
Section Members: 431
Section Dues: $40
Additional Resources
History of Appellate Practice Section Chairs
Bylaws of the Appellate Practice Section
Social Media
Read about the Appellate Practice Section in the July/August issue of The Houston Lawyer by clicking the article below.
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New Appellate Pro Bono Program
The State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee and the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section Pro Bono Committee are conducting a Pro Bono Program to place a limited number of civil appeals with appellate counsel who will represent the appellant or appellee before the First or Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. The goal of the program is to match clients who are financially unable to obtain legal representation with volunteer lawyers who agree to serve without expectation of compensation for their service. Through this Program, volunteer lawyers obtain greater appellate experience in, and exposure to, the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. The Courts have indicated that they will give special consideration to hearing oral argument in cases accepted through the Program.
A description of this Program is located at the Pro Bono Pamphlet for the First Court of Appeals and the Pro Bono Pamphlet for the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.
The sign-up sheet to become involved in the pro bono programs is located at the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Project webpage. This webpage also includes general information, sample motions, and brief templates that may help you navigate through the appellate process in the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals.
Watch the Appellate Practice Section's August 13, 2020 Webinar
"The Appeal of Social Media: The advantages, pitfalls, and ethics of engaging online"
Carl Cecere (Cecere PC), Kendyl T. Hanks (Greenberg Traurig, LLP), and Raffi Melkonian (Wright Close & Barger, LLP)
This program is no longer available for CLE credit, but is still available to view.
