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Supreme Court of Texas, Court of Criminal Appeals swear in new State Bar members
Summary
A joint session of the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals formally welcomed and administered the lawyers' oath to successful February 2026 Texas Bar examinees; court leaders and bar officials emphasized mentorship, public service and attorney wellness.
The Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals convened a special joint session to welcome and swear in successful examinees of the February 2026 Texas Bar Examination. Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock and Presiding Judge David Schenck opened the ceremony and congratulated the new lawyers before the oath was administered.
Blake Hawthorne, clerk of the Supreme Court of Texas, began with housekeeping: new admittees must complete the State Bar online registration to receive their wall certificates and bar cards, and "by order of the Supreme Court of Texas" they must complete the James A. Baker Guide to the Basics of Law Practice administered by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. Hawthorne reminded inductees that the oath is to be affixed to the wall certificate and that the State Bar will mail bar cards separately.
Santos Vargas, president of the State Bar of Texas, urged the new lawyers to seek mentors and to use State Bar resources, including free legal research tools, an ethics helpline, a career center and an AI toolkit for navigating emerging technology. Vargas called on the inductees to help "bridge the justice gap for the more than 5 million low-income Texans who cannot afford representation." Allison Martinez, president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, reiterated the importance of mentorship and wellness for lawyers licensed 12 years or less and described TYLA programs and supports.
The courts recognized the top scorers on the bar exam. The third-highest scorer, Joseph Newman, and the second-highest scorer, Nicholas Silvas, were acknowledged. Kimberly Cooker, the highest scorer, spoke for the class, reflecting on the anxiety and transition of entering practice and closed with a lighthearted reference: "we did it."
Alexis Howard Lewis of the Texas Board of Law Examiners presented a certified list of successful examinees, stating that those listed "have successfully passed the February 2026 Texas Bar Examination or have otherwise satisfied the examination requirement and have completed all other requirements for licensing." Chief Justice Blacklock then administered the lawyers' oath and charged the new attorneys to support the Constitutions of the United States and Texas, to practice with honesty and integrity, and to balance zealous advocacy for clients with candor toward the courts.
The courts concluded the special session with closing remarks urging new lawyers to preserve personal relationships and wellness amid professional demands, then adjourned. The State Bar provided information booths and refreshments following the ceremony.
