A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Friday sided with the Trump administration’s interpretation of immigration law, allowing the government to detain noncitizens without the opportunity to seek bond while they contest deportation. 

Writing for the majority, U.S. Circuit Judge Edith H. Jones concluded that a provision of Section 1225 of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the government to deny bond to noncitizens who have been living in the U.S. — often for decades and frequently without criminal records — as they fight removal proceedings. For nearly 30 years, prior administrations had treated such individuals as subject to Section 1226, which permits release on bond. 

A 3.6 percent funding cut approved by the U.S. Senate for the Legal Services Corporation — the federal nonprofit that funds legal aid organizations nationwide — will result in an estimated $1.9 million loss for Texas, marking yet another setback for legal aid providers after a year of repeated funding reductions, advocates said.

There were no lawyers in Nayelly Dominguez’s family to help chart a path for her. 

Now a corporate lawyer at 7-Eleven, the daughter of Mexican immigrants has built what one nominator calls a “national profile as a champion” for greater representation of Hispanic and Latina lawyers across in-house departments, law firms, bar associations and government roles.

For her influence, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are recognizing Dominguez as one of two award recipients for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion. A ceremony will be held Jan. 29 at the George W. Bush Institute.

As senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Jacobs, a Fortune 250 company, Sarah Wariner looks for only the best legal counsel. 

It just so happens, she said, that the strongest teams are also the most diverse. 

“The best counsel, in my opinion, is the counsel that can come up with creative perspectives and view things from all angles and deliver the best solution,” Wariner said. “And I think you get that by having diverse minds, and that means diverse backgrounds.” 

Never before has the role of Texas lawyers been more important when it comes to meeting the legal needs of those in poverty, those who are disenfranchised or disadvantaged, those who are military veterans or single parents and children facing abusive environments. Never has the issue of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession been more important or more newsworthy.

For three years now, The Texas Lawbook has covered the work of Texas lawyers — from law firm partners and associates to in-house counsel — who stepped forward on their own time and at their own expense to help others.

At a time when many corporate law leaders have gone silent on diversity efforts they publicly championed just six months ago, Susman Godfrey brushed political backlash fears aside and made a defiant statement Friday.