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Texas Trial Procedure and Evidence

Attention, Texas trial lawyers: the O’Quinn Law Library recently acquired the 2018 edition of Texas Trial Procedure and Evidence, by Jim Wren and Jeremy Counseller. The authors are both Baylor law professors, with a considerable amount of trial experience between them. The aim of their book, as stated in the introduction, is “to be the single indispensable resource for any trial lawyer in a Texas state court civil trial.” It’s a bold claim (and I, as a law librarian, tend to be wary of the idea of a “one-stop shop” for any area of legal research), but the book certainly does provide a wealth of useful information. 

The book is arranged in the order of the phases of trial, from pretrial hearings, jury selection, and opening statements all the way through to jury charges, judgment, and post-judgment motions. It includes extensive discussion of the rules of procedure and evidence, as well as a number of forms for various motions and requests. In addition to the main text and forms, the book also includes the following appendices:
  • Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Texas Rules of Evidence
  • The Texas Lawyers' Creed
  • Selected chapters of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code
  • Final Checklist for Trial
  • Quick Reference Guide
  • Trial Notebook Categories and Sample Exhibit List
Texas Trial Procedure and Evidence can be found in the library under call number KFT1779.W74 2018. 

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