CA Newsletter: A History of Service
The Harris County Law Library has served the people of Harris County well for over 96 years and the Office of the Harris County Attorney is committed to continuing that tradition of service.
The library was established by James Baker and Lewis Bryant to serve the research needs of the members of the Houston Bar Association. Officially opened on October 1, 1915, the County Law Library was housed on the 5th floor of the Harris County Courthouse. One year later, Commissioners Court authorized $100 a month to maintain the library.
The library served as a research center for law students in the city as the facilities at the Houston Law School, founded in 1911, and South Texas College of Law, established in 1923, were being developed. The Texas Legislature in 1931 authorized counties to provide and finance law libraries by collecting a 50 cent library fee in each civil and criminal case. The fee was later increased to $1 and applied to civil cases only. The fee in Harris County is now $5 per civil case filing.
In the late 1940’s, the library got a private briefing room, equipped with a telephone, Dictaphone, and “Sound Scriber” machine. (Note the Dictaphone is now in Robert Soard’s office while we find a permanent location for it.)
The law library moved to the ground floor in 1956 when the courthouse was remodeled and moved to its present location on the 17th floor of 1019 Congress in 1987. John Eichstadt became director in 1986, serving until his retirement in May of 2011.
Under John’s tenure, the library grew to over 7,000 titles occupying 3.5 miles of shelving. In May, with John’s retirement, Commissioners Court placed the Law Library under the Office of the County Attorney. We are committed to continuing and expanding the Law Library’s history of service. We want to make the Law Library a destination research facility for use by members of the bar as well as the general public.
We are seeking the input of the Houston Bar Association Law Library Committee, the HBA Pro Bono Committee, local practitioners, the Public Defenders Office, and many others as we work together to design a library that will continue to carry out its mission to provide service to all.
Your ideas, input and comments on this important endeavor are requested and welcome.-Vince
(Thanks to Judith Jackson, Associate Law Librarian, for providing dates and facts for this commentary.)
HCAO partners with management districts
Commissioners Court has approved a pilot program developed by County Attorney Vince Ryan and local management districts that will allow the Harris County Attorney to devote more resources to community protection activities. Greater Sharpstown, Brays Oaks, and Spring Branch Management Districts have agreed to fund an assistant county attorney position to handle legal actions to persuade and compel property owners and residents to comply with laws and regulations that impact the quality of life within the districts.
The Attorney will be part of the Special Prosecutions Unit in the Environmental and Infrastructure Practice Group. The Special Prosecutions Unit was established to use the County Attorney’s civil enforcement powers to go after businesses that promote criminal activity, establishments that create public nuisances, and owners who fail to control their dangerous animals. Management Districts are local governmental entities created by the legislature to provide supplemental programs and public services related to mobility, safety, urban design, and economic development.
Commissioners adopt animal rescue plan
Last week Harris County Commissioners Court approved the use of an agreement prepared by the Office of the County Attorney to give nonprofit animal rescue groups the ability to provide care for injured animals in the possession of the County’s animal shelter. The agreement will allow qualified groups to take temporary custody of animals requiring acute, urgent veterinary care. Animals needing this type of care will be added to a “RescueMe” email list with information pertaining to pre- qualified rescue groups. The program will allow interested groups to take possession faster and perhaps save money to the county. Marva Gay, manager of the Public Law Group, worked with Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, Commissioners Court, and other interested parties to create the agreement.
Volunteers needed for Bright Futures Fair
Our office has been asked to participate in the 2011 Bright Futures Fair on August 5. The fair is part of the Harris County Street Olympics Final Event, during the first week of August. Founded in 1987 by Commissioner El Franco Lee the Street Olympics Summer Games have grown to be one of the most popular events of the summer. The program was designed to provide organized athletic activity centered around games that young people traditionally play on the streets. These same games were then organized into positive, rewarding Olympic-style competition. The Bright Futures Fair helps children, ages six to fifteen, learn about health, safety, and careers with bright futures in a fun-filled atmosphere. If you are interested in helping with the County Attorney Booth, please contact Debbie Dillard.
