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 chief judge said the goal is to combine fun with court business.

“At the end of the day, one thing we try to do, is we try to make this fun,” Chief Judge Rodney Gilstrap said in a hallway interview. “These are all hardworking people that have a lot of stress in their lives, either as practicing trial lawyers or as judges, and it’s an opportunity to talk about some serious things, but do it in a fun way and have fun.”

When asked if anyone had ever told him that this conference was too much, Gilstrap said no. “Maybe they thought it,” he quipped.

Organizers allowed a Bloomberg Law reporter to attend, under the conference’s rules that the source of a quote or information wasn’t identified without their permission.

Day One started with activities like pickleball, golf, and shooting. Night One wrapped up at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility a short drive from the Marriott hosting the conference. On Day Three, a talk between the district’s chief judge and a British justice featured a fake fireplace (complete with fake fire) and white high back chairs that looked better suited for a Disney castle. The moderator took the stage dressed like a beekeeper since both speakers kept bees.

In between, members of the legendary football family, the Mannings—specifically Peyton, Archie, and Cooper—spoke on the conference’s second day, in line with the conference’s football theme. Their event began with the NFL theme blaring into the ballroom as staff dressed in referee uniforms passed out candy and popcorn. Later that day, former trial consultant and daytime TV host Dr. Phil McGraw took the stage.

It wasn’t all flash. All of the Eastern District’s active judges sat on a panel the first day. Since the district has a big patent docket on top of a court’s typical cases, both the Federal and Fifth Circuit were well-represented at the event. Judges from other federal courts also attended, to talk about best practices for when EDTX lawyers appear in their home districts and weigh in on hot-button issues like AI.

Cowboys Country

At The Star event, a drumline awaited attendees by the door as they got off charter buses, before walking through where the players eat, past the auditorium where they review film, and onto the field. A series of servers greeted attendees, with items like an espresso martini with the court’s EDTX logo featured in the foam on top. Tables of food dotted the field, and options included brisket sliders with the Cowboys’ star toasted into the top of the bun.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones was a surprise guest, speaking to a quickly assembled crowd and taking photos in the end zone (he apparently arrived via helicopter). Two Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders posed for pictures by the 50-yard line, not surprisingly attracting a mostly male crowd.

Judges and some lawyers were invited the next night to dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant with Terry Bradshaw, the NFL-turned-movie star and sports commentator.

Some attendees said this was par for the course at legal conferences. Others, including a couple panelists, remarked that they had never been to a conference like this one before. A couple suggested that this conference feels like it’s been scaling up in recent years. Last year’s featured speakers included Kevin Costner and former Attorney General Eric Holder, and photos from the event show attendees indoor skydiving and go-karting.

This year’s attendees paid $1,000 each for the three days of civil and IP programming, and $395 for the one day of events meant for the criminal defense bar and prosecutors. Some outside activities, like shooting at a nearby gun range, cost a couple hundred dollars more.

And big firms paid up for the conference: Twelve signed up to be “presenting underwriters,” at the price tag of $25,000 each. Many other firms forked over less, and all got varying levels of billing at the conference, plus free access for a handful of their attorneys. One firm sponsored the wifi and, in return, got their name as the password.

One attendee said this event is good for the court’s collegiality—giving the judges and the bar an opportunity to socialize outside the high-pressure stresses of their job. With opportunities to bond over spa treatments or firing a Glock, there was something to fit every lawyer’s tastes.