Inside a Texas Court’s Flashy, Football-Themed Conference

What are Peyton Manning, Dr. Phil, Jerry Jones, and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders doing at a bench-bar conference?

The federal court in the Eastern District of Texas has a reputation for one of the flashiest gatherings in the country. These annual events, which many federal courts hold, are an opportunity for judges, court staff, and lawyers to gather outside the strict courtroom environment and talk about what they’re working on, get to know each other, and complete some of their mandatory legal education hours.

And while sometimes the biggest names and flashy events seemed to outshine the law, the district’s ...