About the Barbara Jordan Inn
Barbara Charline Jordan (February 21, 1936 - January 17, 1996) was a lawyer, educator, an American politician, and a leader of the Civil Rights movement. A Democrat, she was the first African-American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction, the first Southern black female elected to the United States House of Representatives, the first known lesbian woman elected to the United States Congress (though this was not known to the public during her tenure), and the first African-American woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous other honors. She was a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1978 to 1980. On her death, she became the first African-American woman to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.
Barbara Jordan was chosen as the namesake of this Inn because she was a legendary pioneer in civil rights for women and minorities, and broke many barriers during her career. She was also a teacher and mentor to her students, from the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to the LBJ School of Public Affairs. In much the same way, her namesake Inn focuses on members who have not had the Inn experience before--criminal law, family law, immigration law, women, attorneys of color, solo/ small firm, LGBTQ, etc.
- September 9, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m. orientation
- October 14, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m.
- November 11, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m.
- December 10, 2025 -- 5:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
- January 13, 2026 -- 5:30 p.m.
- February 10, 2026 -- 5:30 p.m.
- March 10, 2026 -- 5:30 p.m.
- April 14, 2026 -- 5:30 p.m.
2024-2025 Committee Members
- Executive Committee
- President - Melissa Hargis
- President-Elect - Robyn Hargrove
- Treasurer - Brittani Miller
- Counselor - The Honorable Jeff Boyd
- Immediate Past President - Mark Pierce
- Judicial Mentor: The Honorable Maya Guerra Gamble
- UT Law Liaison - Chris Roberts
- Administrator - Jeanette Ybarra
- Webmasters - Drew Harris
- Chair Members
- Membership Chair - Pam Deitchle
- Programs Chair - Gene Anthes
- Mentorship Co-Chair - Bradley Hargis & Jordan Garsson
- Social Chair - Sharon Baxter & Tania Rosamond
- Achieving Excellence Chair - Laura Goettsche
- Community Outreach Chair - Armin Salek & Ali Andrews
Team Presentations
The Barbara Jordan Inn meets once a month to watch group presentations by its members for CLE credit. Here were some of prior years' presentation topics:
- January 6, 2026. Who wants to be a Voir Dire master
- December 10, 2025. The Law Awakens: A Journey through the Frontier of Space
- November 11, 2025. Forensic Evidence & Its Shortfalls: A True Crime Podcast
- October 14, 2025. Practical Tips on Depositions
- April 1, 2025. TikTok and the Law
- March 11, 2025. Name, Image & Likeness: Unpacking the Legal Playbook for College Sports
- February 11, 2025. Evolution of Gun Control in America
- January 14, 2025. De-Escalation Groundhog Day: Strategies for Handling Difficult People and Situations
- December 11, 2024. Voting Rights/Election Law 101
- November 13, 2024. Unethical Elliot and Pushover Patricia: Lessons in Ethics and Professionalism
- October 8, 2024. Jekyll & Hyde: When Clients Become Monsters
- April 9, 2024. Media and its Influence on Legislation, Trial Outcomes, and Juries
- March 12, 2024. Know Your Rights: What Are Your Civil Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement
- February 13, 2024. Copyright Law: A Fair-Use Musical Parody on the Present State of the Law
- January 9, 2024. Issues Related to LGBTQIA
- December 6, 2023. Prisoner Rights and Incarceration Issues
- November 7, 2023. AI and the Law
- October 10, 2023. Gun Point Cases. A Trial Study/Self Defense/Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground
- April 11, 2023. Do-You-Think-He-Sue-Us: A Jurassic Park themed trial that teaches making and meeting objections
- March 14, 2023. The (March) Madness of Money & College Sports
- February 15, 2023. Tyranny of the Minority Checks and Balances
- January 24, 2023. Handling a Grievance
- December 6, 2022. Candor – It’s not just for Kindergarten anymore
- November 8, 2022. Mental Health-How Trauma Impacts Your Practice
- October 11, 2022. Who wants to be Disbarred? How to navigate ethical pitfalls
- April 12, 2022. “Not-so-Scary, Not-so-Campfire Tales.”
- March 8, 2022. Understanding Climate Change Laws
- February 8, 2022. The Status and Potential Effects of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
- January 11, 2022. Writ Jeopardy
- December 7, 2021. Bail Reform
- November 9, 2021. Facebook University School of Law: Law and Social Media
- October 12, 2021. What It Means to be a Lawyer in 2021
- April 13, 2021. Vaccine Litigation
- March 9, 2021. The Balance of Power: Shifting Trends in Central vs. Local Legal Mechanisms
- February 9, 2021. Judicial Selection In Texas
- January 12, 2021. The Rule of Law Review
- December 8, 2020. The Lady Bunch: Women & the Law
- November 10, 2020. The Electoral College
- October 13, 2020. You Bet Your Bar Card
- June 18, 2020. Ethics in the time of COVID
- March 3, 2020. Assassinations, Targeted Killings & The Law
- February 11, 2020. Laws & Paws: Laws Surrounding Animals and Animal Cruelty Cases
- January 7, 2020. The History And Procedure Of Impeachment In The United States Government
- December 3, 2019. New Yeay's Resolution: New Legislation in Texas
- November 12, 2019. Is it Hemp or is it Weed—Legalization of Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD in Texas and across the country
- October 8, 2019. Professionally Dealing with Pro Se Litigants.
- April 2, 2019. Practicing with Civility and Professionalism
- March 5, 2019. Facebook: None of Your Business
- February 5, 2019. Looking Backward to Move Forward: Historical Abuses of Executive Power
- January 8, 2019. Technology & Voting
- December 4, 2018. 2019 May Not be the Year of the Lions: The Future of the Brackenridge Track
- November 13, 2018. #Me Too - Due Process in the Digital Age
- October 2, 2018.
- April 4, 2017. Does Art Imitate Law, or Does Law Imitate Art?
- March 7, 2017. Emerging Issues in the New Presidency
- February 7, 2017. Navigating Practical Ethical Dilemmas
- January 10, 2017. How the Writs Act of 1789 Impacts Your IPhone
- December 6, 2016. Merry Juana: A Sleighride Through Marajuana Laws
- November 1, 2016. I'm Not a Bill, But I Get Things Done: Executive Orders
- October 4, 2016. Alien Tort Statute: Litigating Falun Gong in the United States
Social outings
Inn teams are encouraged to get together for social events outside of preparing for CLE presentations.
Several Inn members at the 2024 social event.
In the Press
Our April 2022 Inn social event at Bouldin Acres was covered in The Bencher magazine.
The Bencher also recognized several members of the Barbara Jordan Inn of Court for their volunteer work with the Community First Village. We are proud of our members' service!
Inn Documents
Charter Presentation
We were fortunate to have the Honorable Justice Carl E. Stewart of the 5th Court of Appeals, and President of the National American Inn of Court join us on April 14, 2016 to formally present our charter.
Left to Right: President-Elect Honorable Sherry Statman, President Frank King, Honorable Justice Carl E. Stewart, Counselor Honorable Jeff Boyd
Left to right: Counselor Honorable Jeff Boyd, President Frank King, National Inn President Honorable Justice Carl E. Stewart, Inn Founder and Advisor Dirk Jordan, Honorable Lee Yeakel
Sponsors
We are very appreciative of our 2023-2024 sponsors, Gunter, Bennett & Anthes, DC Law, and Scott, Douglass & McConnico, LLP!
