By Alejandra Galvan
On March 1st and March 2nd, the LEAP Center joined the President’s Office and the TX Supreme Court to make history. For the first time ithe Supreme Court of Texas provided students with the opportunity to witness two Court proceedings in the comfort of their own campus!
Leaving behind the bustling Texas Capitol, the Austin Interns/LEAP Ambassadors made their journey back to Huntsville, TX. We looked forward to returning to the quaint town of Huntsville, while also knowing we would be greeting and eating with the Texas Supreme Court Justices.
Of course, prior to the Wednesday night dinner with the justices, we had some preparing to do for the actual court cases. This involved us moving things around and otherwise preparing the Gaertner Performing Arts Center to look like a courtroom.
_____________________________________
That evening, the justices were welcomed to SHSU with a reception and dinner in Austin Hall. Two of the ambassadors coordinated with the Court’s DPS officers to transport (in golf carts) the justices and other guests to dinner.
Although formally charged with greeting the justices and guests–including elected officials, local attorneys, and University administrators…
we were able to spend time with some familiar faces…
…old friends…
…and the justices.
It was appropriate that the event took place in Austin Hall, which was housed by Austin College which, in turn, housed the state’s first law school.
In fact, General Sam Houston was on the board of directors for Austin College. Thus, this historic event traced directly back to the life and career of Texas’s most famous lawyer, and the ambiance seemed to make everyone happier.
The real fun, though, was just having the opportunity to mingle and see people having a good time.
_______________________________________
The night’s program included remarks from Professor Mike Yawn…
…President Dana Hoyt…
…and Chief Justice Nathan Hecht.
At least one TXSC Justice was seated at each table, often with at least one attorney, and this arrangement benefited the Ambassadors well in terms of advice in our future law careers.
_______________________________________
Perhaps no one had a better seat than Christina Perez, who sat alongside President Hoyt, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, 10th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Tom Gray, and County Judge Danny Pierce. Gray and Pierce, long-time friends of the LEAP Ambassadors, calmed Perez’s nerves, and allowed her to enjoy her time with the TXSC Chief Justice and University President. And they, in turn, seemed to enjoy the night as well.
As the echoing laughter and chatter in Austin Hall died down, the attending guests bid their farewells to the Justices. The LEAP Ambassadors reflected on the night while standing in the now empty Austin Hall before leaving to get a good night’s rest for what the following day had in store.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 