Looking Back - The Battle of San Jacinto - April 21, 1836

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Seal of the Office of the Harris County Attorney

“Remember the Alamo!” “Remember Goliad!” These were the cries that rallied a weary and all but broken Texas army that ultimately defeated the Mexican forces led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Despite having declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836, the Texas army still had a long way to go to be truly independent from Mexico. In the midst of a retreat from Gonzales, General Sam Houston turned his men toward Harrisburg and Lynch’s Ferry. Encamping among the trees along the bayou, the Texas army occupied a strategic piece of land that enabled them to watch the movements of Santa Anna and his men.

On the morning of April 21, 1836, General Houston overruled the desire of his officers to wait for Santa Anna to attack first and opted to let his men make the first move. In the afternoon, while the Mexican Army rested, the Texas army advanced using the terrain surrounding Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River as their natural cover. Taking advantage of Santa Anna’s failure to post sentries nearby, the Texas army was able to defeat the Mexican army in a battle that lasted a mere 18 minutes. The victory not only cemented the young Republic’s independence from Mexico, but it also opened up more of the West, furthering the idea of “manifest destiny.”

The Monument commemorating the Battle of San Jacinto has become an iconic symbol of those who fought bravely for Texas independence. Recognizing the strength and determination of all those who fought for independence, former Harris County Attorney Mike Driscoll selected an image of the Monument for the seal of the Harris County Attorney’s Office as a reminder of what can be accomplished when individuals work together toward a common goal.

If you would like more information about the Battle of San Jacinto or other interesting facts and tidbits about Texas, visit the Harris County Law Library and have a look at the Texas Almanac. It's a great read!

Law Day Observance: Miranda v. Arizona Reenactment

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona. In recognition of this historic decision, the American Bar Association has dedicated its annual Law Day celebration to the case’s memory. The theme -- Miranda: More Than Words – will “explore the procedural protections afforded to all of us by the U.S. Constitution, how these rights are safeguarded by the courts, and why the preservation of these principles is essential to our liberty.” (ABA)

In keeping with this theme, the Houston Bar Association is also recognizing this historic case by staging a reenactment of the arguments. The cast will include a number of local attorneys and judges : Alex Bunin, John Raley, Daniella Landers, the Hon. Joe Villareal, Prof. Geoffrey Corn, JoAnne Musick. The event will be held on April 29th at 2:00 pm in the Harris County 1910 Courthouse at 301 Fannin Street. The program is approved for 1.0 hour of MCLE credit and admission is free. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

As we approach May 1st, look for other Law Day events to take place including this program presented by the Galveston County Bar Association. The Harris County Law Library will be celebrating Law Day as well. Look for our exhibit of the Miranda ruling in the library lobby on May 1st.  

Do-It-Yourself Tutorials for Microsoft Word 2010 and 2013

In last week’s Tech Tuesday post, we promised to feature tips and tricks to help you increase the efficiency and productivity of your daily practice, many of which will focus on legal writing and document production using Microsoft Word.  To kick off our series, we’re recommending a couple of good online resources for learning and/or fine-tuning your word processing skills. Using these sites to identify your weaknesses and build on your strengths, you’ll become an expert in document preparation and a master of efficiency!

Some of the best tutorials for learning the nuts and bolts of MS Word 2013 can be found, as expected, on the Microsoft website. These do-it-yourself lessons are grouped by skill level, covering everything from margins to mail merge. We also recommend the lessons at LearnFree.org, which cover basic operations and common tasks in MS Word 2010. 

Poetry of the Bench and Bar: The Taxman Cometh

It’s April 15th, and today, The Taxman cometh. We at the Harris County Law Library can think of no better way to welcome this annual visitor than to share a poem. The IRS doesn’t typically conjure the spirit of creativity, but on this day, while we celebrate National Poetry Month, a bit of written verse may be just what we all need. 

Currently on display in the Library lobby is an exhibit of legal opinions written in verse. Inspired by various sources including Edgar Allan Poe, Dr. Seuss, and Leann Rimes, these opinions reflect the wit and wisdom of their authors as well as the occasional levity of the court. One such opinion, written by Fifth Circuit Judge Irving Goldberg in the case United States v. Batson, even makes reference to government subsidies (i.e., tax breaks), in particular, the cotton set-aside program. A group of program participants in Gaines, Texas took full advantage of these subsidies, and managed to evade program payment limitations for a number of years. In his ruling, Judge Goldberg, known for his frequent use of biblical, literary, and musical references began his opinion with a poem:

Some farmers from Gaines had a plan.

It amounted to quite a big scam.

But the payments for cotton

began to smell rotten.

Twas a mugging of poor Uncle Sam.

The ASCS and its crew

uncovered this fraudulent stew.

After quite a few hearings,

the end is now nearing--

It awaits our judicial review.

This is just one of the clever opinions penned from the bench. For more examples of parody and verse in legal decisions, visit the Gallagher Law Library Judicial Humor page. And be sure to check in with Ex Libris Juris next Friday when we'll feature another law-related poem in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Legal Writing Resource Month: Bryan Garner on Words

April is Legal Writing Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library. Selected titles to help you improve your writing are currently on display. Included are a number of books by author, Bryan A. Garner, editor in chief of Black’s Law Dictionary and a highly-regarded expert on effective legal writing. In addition to his many print publications, Garner is very active online. He maintains a lively Twitter feed,  a popular Facebook page, and a regular blog on the LawProse website. He will even send you a Usage Tip of the Day if you email him at info@lawprose.org.

Another popular source for Garner’s writing is his monthly column in the ABA Journal, Bryan Garner on Words. Each month, Garner shares his thoughts on language, style, organization, and legal discourse. He typically offers  suggestions for improved writing proficiency, focusing at various times on the importance of good headings, well-organized tables of contents, and a dedication to clarity in writing. On occasion, he will share a historical vignette, offer his personal musings on a particular subject,  or wax philosophic about legalese and golf, none of which should be missed!

Whether you are writing a research memo, a legal brief, or an opinion letter, there is much to be learned from Bryan A. Garner. The Harris County Law Library highly recommends his work and will be happy to help you locate additional writing sources to improve your legal writing skills.