TWENTY THIRD EMERGENCY ORDER REGARDING COVID 19 STATE OF DISASTER v. << (2020)

ORDERED that:

1. Governor Abbott has declared a state of disaster in all 254 counties in the State of Texas in response to the imminent threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Under Article III of the State Bar Rules, Texas lawyers who do not pay membership fees to the State Bar by August 31, 2020, would be automatically suspended from the practice of law on September 1, 2020. The pandemic has hindered some attorneys from meeting that deadline.

3. The deadline for payment of State Bar membership fees is extended to October 31, 2020. A failure to meet that deadline will result in an automatic suspension on November 1, 2020.

4. The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to post a copy of this Order on www.txcourts.gov.

5. The State Bar of Texas is directed to take all reasonable steps to notify members of the State Bar of Texas of this Order.

Nathan L. Hecht, Chief Justice