Chief Justice administers oath as Board of Law Examiners presents successful examinees; high scorer urges humility and service

Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock and Presiding Judge David Schenck convened the special joint session of the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals to swear in candidates who passed the February 2025 bar exam. Duane Massey of the Board of Law Examiners presented the list of successful examinees to the court, stating those named had "successfully passed the February 2025 Texas bar examination, or have otherwise satisfied the examination requirement and have completed all other requirements for licensing in the rules governing admission to the bar of Texas."

After Massey presented the list, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock administered the lawyer's oath. "I, Jimmy Blacklock, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitutions of The United States and of this state..." the chief justice recited, and new lawyers were invited to repeat the oath as officers of the court. Blacklock emphasized duties that accompany licensure: zealous advocacy for clients, candor and honesty to courts, and a duty to practice in ways that support the U.S. and Texas constitutions.

Summer Shaw, who the court identified as the top scorer on the bar exam, addressed the new lawyers and said the day was "about more than just a test score. It's about perseverance, character, grit." The court also recognized Caitlin Farrell and Andrew Oliver as the third- and second-highest scorers respectively; the chief justice said the scores reported are rounded but noted the high scorer's reported score was 339.3 while the runner-up's reported score was 338.7.

The ceremony concluded with the clerk adjourning the courts and refreshments offered by the State Bar on Level 3. The presentation of the list and oath administration were recorded as the formal, ceremonial steps completing the admission process for the examinees named by the Board of Law Examiners.