Texas Lawyer's Creed
The Texas Lawyer's Creed is a declaration of professionalism and civility issued in 1989 by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.
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History of the Texas Lawyer's Creed
Alarmed by the rise of so-called “Rambo litigation”— marked by obstructionist tactics, numerous motions for sanctions, and generally petty behavior — several leaders of the Texas legal profession came together in the late 1980s to draft a code of conduct to restore professionalism and civility to the bar.
Texas Lawyer's Creed Timeline
Recently, Justice Cook generously donated papers relating to the Creed’s creation to the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, and both Justice Cook and the TSCHS have agreed to allow the Texas Center for Legal Ethics to post some of these documents here.
About Justice Eugene Cook, Principal Architect of the Creed
Throughout his distinguished career, Justice Eugene Augustus Cook, III, served in numerous leadership positions, both within and outside the legal profession, including President of the Houston Bar Association from 1989-90. He has received numerous awards, including the State Bar of Texas President’s Award in 1989 and the Gene Cavin Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education in 2010. He was deeply committed to and an active participant in Special Olympics Texas, where he chaired the Board of Trustees.
Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award
2023 Recipients:
Downloads
Papers relating to the Creed’s creation to the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society.