Southern District of Texas Chapter

The Southern District of Texas Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to serving the needs of both the bar and bench in the Southern District of Texas. Established in 1959, the Southern District of Texas Chapter is the largest Federal Bar Chapter in geographic size, spanning the entire Southern District of Texas and encompassing all seven of its divisions. Our Chapter has become the second largest chapter of the FBA in Texas, with a membership of more than 260. Our Chapter members come from private practice, government agencies, military branches, local law schools, and the judiciary.

The Chapter is committed to improving federal practice throughout the Southern District of Texas. Our Chapter holds regular CLE luncheons with speakers ranging from federal judges, U.S. Attorneys, heads of federal agencies, and lawyers involved in prominent federal cases. In addition to our monthly CLE luncheons in Houston, the Chapter sponsors various CLE events in other cities throughout the District.

The Chapter also awards Blask Fellowships each year to law students interning with federal courts or agencies located within the Southern District. The Blask Fellowships honor the memory of Magistrate Judge Ronnie Blask, a former Chapter President. Recent Fellowship recipients have interned for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District, Magistrate and Bankruptcy Judges, as well as federal agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, NASA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Each year the Chapter also supports the Michael Taylor Shelby Award for professionalism in federal service. This award recognizes an attorney in federal service working within the Southern District who has exhibited outstanding dedication, ethics, and professionalism.

The Chapter also hosts a gala dinner honoring all of the federal judges of the Southern District. Recent Annual Dinner speakers include Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, Clay Allen, who is the General Counsel for the Houston Rockets, and Hon. Carlton Reeves.