Scheef & Stone partner Michael C. Smith co-moderated the panel “Leadership from the Bench: Perspectives from the Texas Chiefs” at the 2025 Eastern District of Texas (EDTX) Bench Bar Conference, held October 23–24.
The session brought together the Chief Judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the four Texas federal judicial districts—a rare and distinguished panel offering unified insights on leadership, court administration, and the evolving challenges facing the judiciary.
Panelists included:
• Chief Judge Jennifer Elrod, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Chief Judge Randy Crane, Southern District of Texas
• Chief Judge David Godbey, Northern District of Texas
• Chief Judge Alia Moses, Western District of Texas
• Chief Judge Amos Mazzant, Eastern District of Texas
Co-Moderators: Michael C. Smith (Scheef & Stone, LLP) and Eric Findlay (Findlay Craft, LLP)
The panel explored how judicial leadership impacts docket management, administrative efficiency, and the public’s trust in the courts. According to the official program description, the discussion offered “an invaluable opportunity for attorneys, judges, and court professionals to gain a deeper understanding of leadership from the bench and the direction of the courts across the state.”
Scheef & Stone’s Caroline Brown and Keith Rawlins also represented the firm at the conference. Brown took detailed notes from sessions on litigation management and AI ethics—including Mark Lanier’s “Ten Commandments of AI Use”—while Rawlins connected with colleagues and members of the judiciary on current trends and emerging issues.
The EDTX Bench Bar Conference remains one of Texas’s premier forums for collaboration among judges, attorneys, and in-house counsel, advancing excellence in advocacy and understanding between the bench and bar.