American College of Trial Lawyers welcomes Karen Burgess
(Listed in Photo: Casey Dobson, Steve McConnico, Karen C. Burgess and Randy Howry of Austin attend the Induction Ceremony at the 2019 Spring Meeting of the ACTL.)
Atwood & Burgess among first Austin women inductees.
Missy K. Atwood, Karen C. Burgess and Casey Dobson have become Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The three Austinites were recognized by the president, Jeffrey S. Leon, along with the Executive Committee and Board of Regents at the Induction Ceremony at the 2019 Spring Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California on Saturday. Burgess and Atwood join existing Fellow, Jerry Clements, as the first Austin women inducted into the exclusive litigation organization.
The weekend included presentations from Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella of the Canadian Supreme Court, award-winning journalist Jeff Greenfield, former head of the DEA Chuck Rosenberg, the Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy recipient, Stephen B. Bright, and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was honorarily inducted after his remarks to the group in La Quinta.
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.
Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.
Missy K. Atwood is a Principal at Germer Attorneys at Law and has over 27 years of experience in Austin. Missy is an alumna of Baylor University School of Law. For more information on Missy, visit her bio online at www.germer.com/attorneys/missy-k-atwood.
Karen C. Burgess is the Principal Attorney at Burgess Law and has been practicing in Austin for more than 22 years. Karen is an alumna of University of Texas School of Law. For more information on Karen, visit her online bio at burgesslawpc.com/karen-burgess.
Casey Dobson is Partner at Scott Douglas & McConnico and has been practicing in Austin for more than 33 years. Casey is an alumnus of University of Texas School of Law. For more information on Casey, visit his online bio at www.scottdoug.com/lawyers/casey-dobson.
