Trial Skills

On Friday, August 22, 2025, the Children's Commission hosted a webinar entitled “Trial Skills for Child Welfare Cases: Jury Trial Basics.” During the webinar, Hon. Gary Coley (ret.), Of Counsel at Cherry Johnson Siegmund and James, and Jack Sigman, Attorney at Castagna & Scott, PLLC, provided practice tips on how to prepare for a jury trial in a child welfare case. 

Recording: Trial Skills for Child Welfare Cases: Jury Trial Basics

PowerPoint: Trial Skills for Child Welfare Cases: Jury Trial Basics

MCLE/TBLS Information: The course has been approved for 1.0 hours of MCLE credit. It has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hours for certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare and Family Law. Individuals watching the replay may email CCTraining@txcourts.gov for MCLE self-reporting information.

On November 17, 2023, Michele Surratt, Managing Attorney for DFPS Region 9, and Tiffany Reedy, Managing Counsel for the Child Protection Services and Disability & Elder Law Divisions at the Harris County Attorney’s Office, discussed the foundations necessary to introduce exhibits commonly used in child welfare cases such as business records, certified copies, photos, video clips, outcry statements, and drug test results. Potential objections and foundational issues that may be encountered by attorneys attempting to lay their evidentiary foundation were also covered.

Recording: Laying Your Evidentiary Foundation

PowerPoint: Laying Your Evidentiary Foundation

Additional Materials: Laying Your Evidentiary Foundation Webcast Q&A

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1 hour of MCLE. This course has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty field of Child Welfare Law.

On March 12, 2024, Rob Galvin, Attorney at Law, and William “Drake” Mikeska, Managing Attorney for DFPS Region 8, discussed the importance of making proper objections under the Texas Rules of Evidence. Strategies for when and how to object, how to respond to an objection, and what to do after a receiving a ruling on  an objection were also covered.

Recording: Trial Skills for Child Welfare Cases: Making and Responding to Objections

PowerPoint: Making and Responding to Objections PowerPoint

Additional Materials: Making and Responding to Objections Q&A

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webcast was approved for 1.0 hour of MCLE credit. This course has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty fields of Child Welfare Law and Family Law.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, Leslie Capace, Managing Attorney of the Appellate Section for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and Mark Zuniga, Staff Attorney for the Texas Justice Training Center, provided an overview on how trial attorneys can preserve issues for appeal by securing rulings on the record, making offers of proof, and filing bills of exception.

Recording: Trial Skills for Child Welfare Cases: Preserving the Record for Appeal

PowerPoint: Preserving Your Record for Appeal

Supplemental Paper: Preserving Your Record for Appeal

MCLE/TBLS Information: The recorded webinar was approved for 1.0 hour of MCLE credit. This course has also been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 1.0 hour of certification and recertification continuing legal education requirements for attorneys and paralegals in the specialty fields of Child Welfare Law.