University of Texas System regent Wallace Hall Jr. wanted a forensic analysis of the UT Law School Foundation’s computers, and he wanted to fire Vinson & Elkins as outside counsel for UT Austin. According to a report by the Austin American-Statesman, those revelations came out on Dec. 18 during a hearing before the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations, which is investigating Hall to determine whether to impeach him as regent. Houston lawyer Rusty Hardin, representing the committee, questioned UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa about Hall’s desire for the computer forensic analysis. The Statesman reported, “Hall sought this summer to get the Board of Regents’ office to seize UT Law School Foundation computers and subject them to forensic analysis. Hall has questioned the relationship between the foundation and the School of Law, including a forgivable loan program benefiting some law professors.” Committee member Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, questioned UT-Austin President Bill Powers about Hall allegedly expressing interest in firing Vinson & Elkins. Hall opposed counting software donations as fundraising, but V&E partner Harry Reasoner “took the university’s position that software donations should be counted,” said the article. Previously, the UT System asked for an opinion from the Texas Office of the Attorney General about whether the committee has the legal authority to force UT System lawyers to testify and give up documents, and jail them for contempt if they refuse.
New Texas Secretary of State
In politics, it never hurts if a candidate for office—appointed or elected—has a really good background story to tell the public at large. And that certainly is the case for Locke Lord senior counsel Nandita Berry whom Gov. Rick Perry appointed as Texas Secretary of State on Dec. 19. When she leaves the firm and assumes the job as the state’s chief elections officer on Jan. 7, Berry will become 109th person to hold that post and the first Indian-American to have the job. “Nandita Berry personifies what is possible through hard work and dedication in the State of Texas,” Perry said in a prepared statement. “Arriving from India at the age of 21 with nothing but $200 to her name, she worked diligently to earn her law degree and has since become one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state. Her work ethic, intelligence and wide array of experiences will serve her capably in her new duties as Secretary of State, and I look forward to working with her to keep Texas the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.” Berry, whose practice has focused on technology transactions, did not return a call for comment. In a statement, Berry says she’s glad to have a job once held by Texas hero Stephen F. Austin, the Lone Star State’s first secretary of state. “Like him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state. Every day, I see Austin’s pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves once again Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service.” Berry will replace John Steen who held the job for a year. One of the more exciting legal aspects of the job that Berry can look forward to—as Steen can attest—is her name will now be proximately featured in federal complaints every time Texas gets sued in federal court over voting rights disputes.
