Political party platforms regarding the Texas Bar:
Plank #40 of the Texas Republican platform (of 2022) says, in relevant part:
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40. PRACTICE OF LAW: We oppose mandatory state bar membership for Texas lawyers. We favor restricting those who may file grievances in the legal disciplinary process of Texas to those who have standing. Further, we support sanctions for those who weaponize and politicize the legal disciplinary process of Texas.
SOURCE: https://texasgop.org/platform
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Meanwhile the Texas Libertarians have adopted a plank involving occupational licensing that is rather similar to that of the Texas Republicans:
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2.9 Licensing
Libertarians support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services. Accordingly, we oppose occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. We encourage certifications by voluntary associations of professionals.
SOURCE: https://www.lp.org/platform
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We look forward to learning what the Texas Democrats' position is on mandatory membership in the Texas Bar... Behind the scenes, influential members of their party say they eagerly support making Texas Bar membership voluntary. Is such invisible support for meaningful reform enough to deserve our votes, though?
At any rate, the Texas legislature is increasingly taking notice. Incidentally, during 2021 amidst a very brief special legislative session, Rep. Briscoe Cain filed HB 129 which would greatly accelerate the Sunset Review of the Texas Bar. Meanwhile, the Texas Bar continues to parasitically reject membership-originated bar reform attempts. Is it surprising that nowadays the voter abstention rate of Texas Bar members in that bar's month-long, annual and internet-enabled elections is around 80%? Why does the Texas Bar continue getting to enjoy lucrative mandatory bar membership privileges if only around 20% of members even see fit to vote in that bar's annual elections? Is it not significant that the 5th Circuit court of federal appeals found the Texas Bar to be in noncompliance with both state statutory law and federal jurisprudence otherwise prohibiting that Bar's being politically partisan? By the way, how has the Texas Bar subsequently treated whistleblowers regarding its embezzlement cover-up issues? Meanwhile, why is what amounts to judicial bribery by the Texas Bar still tolerated?
Anyhow, is it not remarkable how most attorneys here in the U.S.A. are NOT required to be a member of ANY state bar association? Attorneys in many U.S. states simply take the bar exam, and if they pass it they remain subject to attorney discipline if they allegedly inadequately comply with (often vague) ethics rules while practicing law. However, unlike here in Texas, they are NOT forced to join trade association bar associations which have problems such as those inevitably plaguing the Texas Bar. Nearly half of U.S. states do not even have mandatory membership "unified" state bar associations. By "unified" we mean that they merge attorney disciplinary activities with potentially corrupting trade association ones like the Texas Bar greedily continues doing. Is it not time for substantial change?
Thank you for reading this. Please feel free to share it with others, if you like.
Would you like to help make a difference by exercising your democratic rights for this cause?
To find your elected state senator and representative (etc.):
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us
Meanwhile: Lt. Governor
Additionally:
Here's a (photographic) directory of Texas state senators.
Here's one of Texas state representatives.
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