So I try not to put them in that position where they feel like they have to laugh because then their laugh is actually mocking me and not laughing at the joke. And if they dont know how to do it or simply arent comfortable, they have brought someone in like a virtual bailiff or a coordinator, who can do this in the background. My favorite was an old divorce case where the husband had a lawyer and the wife didn't. He brought a lawyer. Is it about rolling with the punches? So again, please check out that episode and if you get a chance, please send them your love and please send them your smile emojis. Roy Ferguson is the judge of the 394th Judicial District of Texas. Certainly, no one expected this to resonate the way it has. Manage Newsletters, The Unregulated Podcast with Mike McKenna and Tom Pyle, Heritages Cully Stimson joins Cheryl Chumley, Actor Jim Caviezel on evil, faith and freedom, Aging desktop source of attorneys accidental cat filter, China's military is leading the world in brain 'neurostrike' weapons: Report, David Axelrod says Cornel West poses potential electoral threat to Biden re-election, CDC accused of ignoring science with 'chestfeeding' advice for transgender parents, EDITORIAL: Raging border crisis is a matter of national security, House GOP investigators seek briefing on shameful cocaine incident at White House, Trump says special counsel Jack Smith looks like a crackhead as he fumes over W.H. Work Mr. Ponton and I are thrilled that we gave the world a collective laugh but lets not forget that we needed that laugh. Couldnt resist. Can you tell us what happened and how you ended up with the cat filter? And so, when I got moved from the waiting room to the virtual courtroom, miraculously I reappeared as a cat, to my great consternation, I should add. [2] A competitor who was already established in the area laced Bean's whiskey with kerosene. This experience left Bean with a permanent rope burn and a stiff neck for the rest of his life. #OhNo #NotAgain #lawtwitter pic.twitter.com/N65W89sojo, Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) January 27, 2022, Stay tuned for the Upsilon variant when Judge Ferguson will deal with Lawyer Monkey in Curse of the Golden Motion.. This includes Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio Counties. Roy Ferguson is the judge of the 394th Judicial District of Texas. So we have to know how to fix anything that can go wrong, and thats just part of the job. Insincerity will be recognized, and you will pay the price. Do not sell or share my personal information. With endless customization options and a robust suite of integrations, Assembly Softwares Neos is a powerful, cloud-based platform ideal for todays forward-thinking attorneys. Judge Roy Ferguson shared the video Tuesday from the hearing in the 394th District Court in Texas with a reminder to . Obviously, you have to read the room there are many hearings where no humor is appropriate and you dont need to break the tension its possible that part of the lawyers strategy is for there to be tension in the courtroom with a certain witness. And so Im going to dress the same, Im going to act the same. Rod Ponton has had a distinguished 39-year legal career and is currently serving his third term as Presidio County Attorney. Follow him onTwitterif youre interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Who is Judge Roy Ferguson and why has he gone viral? Bean stopped his rival from buying beer at his own saloon and instead had him pay the fine at The Jersey Lilly. I would have been I probably would have been laughing out loud. Sophia, ne Sabey, 31, was an early college high school coordinator at Marfa ISD. The assault charge was filed for Brenda Berenice Casias . Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription. They dont expect you to know everything, but they expect you to be able to find out. But then theres a flip side that says sometimes humor can kind of disarm everybody, lower the tensions, and kind of help smooth the way to a more amenable litigation process, if you will. For the next year, may you all be here live and #NotaCat." I mean, as soon as I got them focused back on the problem and less on the panic that washes over you when something like that happens, they immediately had it fixed. Im very quickly trying to exit them out to protect them, I dont get upset, Im not going to yell at them for it. And so, we have to know where those things are or we make the confusion worse. So thank you both and you know before we close out, I do want to give a shout out to the Texas Office of Court Administration in Austin. 'I'm not a cat': Lawyer has hard time turning off the kitten filter So, our job is to know everything because where I am, I am also the IT department, and the virtual bailiff. We were in a district courtroom of the State of Texas. It apparently was a filter setting that came with the computer when it was purchased 10 or 12 years ago. And you must not promise what you cannot produce. Insurtechs like Bright Health Group, Clover Health and Oscar Health set out to disrupt health insurance but have they actually done so? Prior to his election in 2012, Judge Ferguson served Far West Texas through private practice in Marfa. How are you sort of compartmentalizing that and what do you want lawyers to learn from this situation as they move forward in their careers? Ponton in feline-form asked: "Can you hear me judge? Your Host Rocky Dhir In 1999, Rocky Dhir did the unthinkable: he became a lawyer. "These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession's dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times. I think its safe to say that you upheld the dignity of the entire process, which I dont know that a lot of other judges or lawyers would have been able to do. Virtual courts should be made a permanent option in Texas Go to Texasbar.com/podcast, subscribe via Apple Podcast and RSS. But Im actually not asking about the fruit. The duel was fought on February 24, 1852, and ended with Collins receiving a wound to his right arm. A new board, the Alpine Emergency Services Board, colloquially referred to as the Alpine Fire department, has been established to oversee the emergency services for the area. Because of the Capitol Hill riot, 394th District Judge Roy Ferguson lead Texas attorneys to renew their vows to protect the constitution and the rule of law---and he hopes to spark a trend. Rocky Dhir: The perfect kind of celebrity. So lets talk about how you kept your own I think you said your own composure was because 39 years of experience being in the courtroom. Rocky Dhir: And what would you want lawyers to kind of take away from all this? Im Rocky Dhir, signing off for now. And that has an impact on the mental health of a profession that is notorious for depression and addiction and suicide. What do you want lawyers to kind of take away from this? And if you saw the original tweet where I released it, I made clear to people that I did not want this to come out as some sort of mocking of either Mr. Ponton or of Texas lawyers or of virtual . Latest news and commentary on Judge Roy Ferguson's Court including photos, videos, quotations, and a biography. We have to continue taking care of the community and one of the amazing things to come out of this, is that people now realize that it doesnt matter who you are, it doesnt matter whether youre a 22-year-old lawyer or a 65-year-old lawyer. You Might Want To Use The Textbooks For Now: Themis was down. And when you appear in front of Judge Ferguson on Zoom, you log into the site. Youre ready to go into his docket caller, whatever hes calling, and youre held in the waiting room, and weve done this dozens of times. Rocky Dhir: Well no, absolutely and both of you gentlemen have given us a lot to think about and to help contextualize this in a way that takes us away from just the humor and actually understand what it means to us as lawyers. Rod Ponton: Well, Ive been a trial lawyer for 39 years and appeared in lots of courts, federal and state courts, and you always try to do everything right, you always study and plan ahead, and theres, inevitably, in every case and every day, theres something that goes awry. He assumed office on January 1, 2013. [2] A store owner in Beanville "was so anxious to have this unscrupulous character out of the neighborhood" that she bought all of Bean's possessions for $900 so that he could leave San Antonio. Judge Ferguson is no stranger to this podcast having appeared twice in two different episodes from our coverage of the State Bar Annual Meeting in 2019. Here Ferguson talks about shooting it straight, staying on the judges good side, and letting clients cry. Judge Ferguson told Ponton on the publicly streamed Zoom call: "Mr Ponton I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings," . Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Ive decided that Im basically Schrodingers Judge because everyone knows of me and no one has any idea who I am. But I was not I was going to take steps to make sure that no one was subjected to embarrassment. Lawyer tells judge 'I'm not a cat' after a Zoom filter mishap in So that I hear it and the client hears it and YouTube hears it. So lets maybe start, Judge, with you. "Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filtered lawyer showed incredible grace. Theyve had to talk to family, theyve had business meetings, theyve had other meetings and conferences all on Zoom and just like the Judge said earlier, almost every one of them has some glitch that happens. The legal profession stands on the brink of an AI-driven evolution. Roy B. Ferguson and his attorney wife, Pene, started their careers in Houston, but in 1999, they moved almost 600 miles to one of the states least-populated regions, a place with high-desert vistas of the Davis Mountains and Big Bend where both of them have family roots. Site Map, Advertise| I recommend that you view it before you hear the rest of this episode. And so, you know, there are people, they have terrible names for it. Roy Ferguson is the judge of the 394th Judicial District of Texas. Candidates should We seek an Associate Attorney to join our workers compensation team. The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by the State Bar of Texas, Legal Talk Network or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents representatives, shareholders or subsidiaries. It is a great responsibility, and the weight of it can be overwhelming if you are not prepared for it. But in addition, Ive gotten some comments from some pretty powerful lawyers saying that theyre so happy that theres something about the legal profession that came out that was positive. But for the day-to-day needs of local rural residents, the options are few. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 1881-1901, April 20, 1897, Image 2", "El Paso daily herald. NOVATO, CALIF - Of all the events that brought the world together this year for a collective feel-good chuckle, one stands out: Zoom cat lawyer. Rod Ponton: And although at first it was sort of a hassle of trying to get up to speed because of the huge distances involved in Judge Fergusons district, it sort of made things more convenient as far as less travel. (A fun story .) So, you sort of learn how to think on your feet based on the time youve been practicing law. Terms of Service. Obviously, you did as well, I think anybody who has ever been in a litigation situation and has ever argued a hearing or done a Trial in Court understands how these things can happen. In the fourth, there are a couple of part-time practices, but no full-time law firms. So, Judge Ferguson, you walked Rod through the process of effectively taking that filter off. Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021 Ponton told Vice the minor cat-tastrophe wasn't his fault. For the remainder of the war, he ran the naval blockade by hauling cotton from San Antonio to British ships off the coast at Matamoros and returning with needed supplies. Local power figures come and go, but you want your professional success to last a lifetime. We may be approaching the third year of COVID, but that doesnt mean lawyers have smoothed over all their tech problems. Firms need digital transformation to thrive. [2] To escape being charged with murder by Mexican authorities, Roy and Sam Bean fled west to Sonora, Mexico. In 2012, Ferguson was elected judge of the 394th Judicial District, which encompasses Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, and Presidio counties and covers more of the U.S.-Mexico border than any other district in Texas. As always, consult a lawyer. Now she would put her argumentation skills to the test before Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th Judicial District. How do you think and why do you think everybody kind of held fast and kept everything so dignified? I tend to believe that at this point, the judges have put in the effort that they need to run these things. Hit the books. You might want. Box 1410 Alpine, TX 79831 (432) 837-5831 (432) 837-1241 Judge Roy Ferguson shared footage showing a man identified as a lawyer as he struggled to turn off the cat filter during online proceedings Why you can trust Sky News A lawyer appearing before a judge in a virtual court case popped up on screen as a cartoon cat - after failing to realise a feline filter was switched on. Is it the role of humor? $12M in fines hasnt done it, Amsterdam court gives green light to plan to reduce flights at busy Schiphol Airport, How to rein in migration to the Netherlands is dividing the Dutch government, Shipping company slapped with $1.5 million fine for dumping polluted wastewater off African coast, Man gets probation for bankruptcy fraud after hiding 'Dukes of Hazzard' car replica from creditors, Climate 'hottest day' lies ratchet, and lockdowns loom again, Texas gunman in Walmart shooting gets 90 consecutive life sentences but may still face death penalty. After Joshua was murdered in November 1852, Bean inherited the saloon. (El Paso, Tex.) Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. 'I Am Not a Cat,' Lawyer Using Zoom Cat Filter Tells Judge - VICE The Goulds visited for two hours, causing a brief panic on the New York Stock Exchange when it was reported that Gould had been killed in a train crash. At the the moment I moved from the waiting room into the virtual courtroom, thats when the cat appeared instead of me. Judge Roy B. Ferguson of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas kindly addressed the cat in the virtual room, suggesting that attorney Rod Ponton adjust his Zoom settings. He even took to Twitter to poke fun at the situation. And the last thing Im going to do is have them believe that Im making light of their dispute or Im not taking it seriously or Im embarrassing or mocking their attorney. Screenshot of Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th District Court in Texas reacted to this week's Capitol Hill riot by holding a ceremony for Texas attorneys to renew their lawyer's oath to uphold. A bar and restaurant on West 56th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City is named the "Judge Roy Bean Public House". This includes Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio Counties. Im focused on helping, thats my goal and thats why it was so easy to stay professional with Mr. Ponton that day or the day that someone comes in and they have their camera turned around backwards. ", 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, [pod_component pod_component_config_id="BB1w9H6DA" pod_component_config_url="https://www.thesun.co.uk/nu-sun-pod-component-config-prod/BB1w9H6DA.json" pod_component_config_loader_url="https://www.thesun.co.uk/nu-sun-pod-loaders-prod/1.72.0/componentLoader.js?85621" src="https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-widgets-prod%2Fiframe-pod.html%3Fid%3DBB1w9H6DA%26script%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-loaders-prod%2F1.72.0%2FcomponentLoader.js%3F85621%26config%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnu-sun-pod-component-config-prod%2FBB1w9H6DA.json"], A lawyer showed up in virtual court in Texas as a cat, Judge Roy Ferguson saw the funny side of the incident. Judge Roy Ferguson: The way that I framed it when I released it is really the way that it seems to have been discussed. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. Its a pleasure to join you again. WHEN Judge Roy Ferguson took part in an online court hearing on February 9, 2021, little did he realise he would become an internet sensation. Rocky Dhir: It sounds like theres been some level of self-study, as well. Sullivan trial ends in mistrial - The Big Bend Sentinel http://www.alpineavalanche.com Weve been doing a virtual courtroom for about nine months because of COVID. [2][11][12], By December 1882, railroad construction had moved farther westward and Bean moved his courtroom and saloon 70 miles (110km) to Strawbridge (now Sanderson). But the aplomb doesnt end with Rod. H's atty: um Me: Overruled. True professionalism all around!". You dont need to take the dias or dominate the discussion. First we had #LawyerCat. Texas "Cat Lawyer": The Zoom Mishap Turned Viral Sensation Unlike in areas where you might only see a particular judge once every few years, you will see a rural judge in every case you take. Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends. Jurors first told the court around 8 p.m. Friday that they couldn't reach a verdict, but presiding Judge Roy Ferguson with the agreement of the prosecution and defense asked them to try again on Monday. [2] Bean then turned his tent saloon into a part-time courtroom and began calling himself the "Only Law West of the Pecos. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Aplomb is especially important when the truly unexpected happens, just as it did on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Rocky Dhir: Well, you know I have to say, all the jokes aside, you maintained way more composure than I would have in that situation. Your user agent does not support the HTML5 Audio element. Family law and real estate are the most common legal needs of citizens on the civil litigation side. ", Ferguson then responded: "I can hear you, I think it's a filter. When he was hanged, the rope stretched and Bean was able to stay alive. I just make sure that theres nothing that can happen in a Zoom hearing that I cant handle. The seven-member board is made up of local citizens and is a joint effort between the city and the county. If you are seen as abusive or Rambo, you will get clients who are looking to fight or hurt the other side. Back to Presidio. Missed Connections: Nixon Peabody and Stroock wont be Nixon Peabody & Stroock after all. Im in the former category. He told me that one of the best parts about the job was that you always had a welcome and warm audience because they were afraid not to laugh. You have to represent your clients and they have done everything that has to be done to adjust and the truth is no one is perfect. Is it something else? After getting into trouble in New Orleans, Bean fled to San Antonio, Texas, to join his elder brother Sam. If you go on my YouTube page, I have left up one of the trainings that we did back at the very beginning. Judge Ferguson has gone viral after sharing a hilarious clip from a virtual court case. Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms financials, staffing, clients, news and events. Judge Roy Ferguson opens virtual proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas on Zoom this week, but is not expecting to see two lawyers and a kitten. It is crucial that this not be used to mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community's dedication to the cause of justice. Girls, 2 and 3, 'traumatised' after escaped guard dog savaged them on way back from nursery with mum in Birmingham, Covid-19 linked to NEW set of common symptoms, docs warn, Estate agent popped four viagra pills then attacked girl he met on dating app and slashed her mate with samurai sword, Covid-hit British Airways passenger allowed to fly to UK after rapid 30-minute swab tested NEGATIVE, Shannon Matthews documentary - Cops 'bonded like brothers' after finding missing schoolgirl, adorable kitten filter during the hearing on Zoom. #Smile #laugh. Again. Bonds reduced for twin brothers Mark and Mike Sheppard in deadly - KFOX And so, those two things together, even though intellectually I was certainly aware that what was happening was objectively funny, I was also aware of what would happen if I took off the robe and just allowed myself to be Roy and laughed, that the dominoes would fall, and that would lessen the dignity of the office, which Im not going to do. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. Feel free toemail any tips, questions, or comments. This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs on the lives and careers of small-town lawyers. Judge Roy Ferguson's Court - Bio, News, Photos They feel compelled to laugh, I try never to put them in that position. The video actually was published by me, on YouTube, and released on Twitter. All Rights Reserved. 3. Lawyer Chipmunk Latest Zoom Courtroom Fail For Lawyer Cat Judge And I want to encourage everyone to please be aware of the people around you, be watching your colleagues and your friends and if you see them struggling, whether it be with anger or alcohol or depression. Roy Bean State District Judge (Brewster). Me: Basis? Column-In 2021, we were all Zoom cat lawyer: Greene - Yahoo Finance Sorry, I had to throw in a cat pun in there somewhere. Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates cocaine affair, Biden to outline efforts to crack down on junk insurance, hidden medical costs, Airstrike in Sudanese city kills at least 22, officials say, amid fighting between rival generals, Russian fighter jets harass American drones over Syria, U.S. military says, Ukraines president hails the countrys soldiers from a Black Sea island to mark 500 days of war, Maryland state prisoner charged with murder in death of his cellmate. Contact Us| For more, go to texasbar.com/smalltown. [2] In 1854 Bean courted a young woman who was subsequently kidnapped and forced to marry a Mexican officer. Read more 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next Last Subscribe to Phantly Roy Bean Jr. (c. 1825 - March 16, 1903) was an American saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in Val Verde County, Texas, who called himself "The Only Law West of the Pecos".According to legend, he held court in his saloon along the Rio Grande on a desolate stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas. Im not a cat.". Cameras in Court . Nowhere are clichs more overused and misused than in legal tech marketing and sales. Contact and Phone Numbers P.O. She was reportedly stabbed dozens of times. Rocky Dhir: Now, Rod, I want to hear your take on this as well and see what you attribute this to. What do you attribute that to? H's atty: Objection! But, Judge, I want to ask a quick follow-up, and that is, you know, maybe this opens up a broader topic or a broader discussion about the role of humor, not only in the courtroom, but in the legal profession. Rod Ponton: Be happy to. The sidesplitting video went viral on Tuesday after it was shared on Twitter and YouTube by Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th Judicial District of Texas. [3] Within a year after being married, he was arrested for aggravated assault and threatening his wife's life. How did you manage to keep your wits about you and and not panic? According to legend, he held court in his saloon along the Rio Grande on a desolate stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas. (El Paso, Tex.) It was really quite advanced for something thats 15 years old. State District Judge (Jeff Davis) And it may be more than that. And so, all I did was tell him, Click this, and those two things are going to pop up, and the first one I said to try, it worked. And so, before we had even selected Zoom, we, this little group, was working together trying different pieces of software to see what would work. They either do their best with whatever they can find, or they simply dont assert their rights. Judge Roy Ferguson and his wife Pene | Alpine Avalanche Rod Ponton: We didnt figure out what caused it. I wouldve tried to help fix the problem, but I would have seen a tremendous amount of humor in it. Lawyer tells judge 'I'm not a cat' in viral video as he struggles with Being a lawyer in a rural setting is practicing law the way it was meant to be done. And so, the point where I stopped the video is right when I came on camera. Bean refused to send the state any part of the fines, and kept all of the money. . Jurors, who were chosen from his best bar customers, were expected to buy a drink during every court recess. Ferguson responded "I can see that" before then giving Ponton instructions on how to get rid of the filter.