214 Texas Bar Journal • March 2021 texasbar.com

Leading by ExampleThe four women Texas Supreme Court justicesdiscuss overcoming obstacles and forging ahead.EditEd by ADAM FADEREWSKI

texasbar.com/tbj Vol. 84, No. 3 • Texas Bar Journal 215

he National Association of Women Judges hosted thefour women justices of the Texas Supreme Court—Eva Guzman, Debra Lehrmann, Jane Bland, andRebeca Aizpuru Huddle—in a discussion panel on

January 21 via Zoom moderated by Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza,of the 120th Judicial District Court in El Paso. The panel,Supreme Women: A Quartet of Justices Making Texas History,focused on the role of women in leadership, overcomingobstacles and impostor syndrome, diversity and equity, andcareer advice. Below is a snapshot of the discussion.

LeadershipJustices Guzman and Lehrmann were asked about theirleadership styles and whether women need to have a differentleadership style than men.

“I don’t think women need different leadership qualities,”Guzman said. “I think that you grow into a style and it’simportant to think, What type of leader do I want to be andwhat kind of legacy do I want as a leader.”

Guzman said her leadership style is more democratic andembraces collective success and pride while promotingindividual creativity and accomplishments.

Lehrmann said it is important for all parties to viewthemselves in a way that results in a better product foreveryone. “It is still important to always work collaborativelyto get the best ideas from everyone involved—competingideas that are going to be the best result for everybody.”

Leaders learn through collaboration and cooperation and usethat to further a goal by employing a number of differenttechniques, Guzman said.

“Leaders are made,” Guzman said. “They have the heart of aservant and they bring out the best in those around them.There are a lot of younger women and lawyers looking at us,so we lead by example.”

Diversity and EquityJustices Bland and Lehrmann discussed diversity and equity,including the current historic composition of the TexasSupreme Court.

Lehrmann commented on the collegial nature of the court,where all of her colleagues are conscientious, hardworkingpeople. “We work together very well,” Lehrmann said. “Thatdoesn’t mean we don’t challenge each other or disagree. It’salways done in a very respectful and collegial manner.”

Bland agreed the justices all work together and communicate

well even when they disagree.

Lehrmann said that diversity is good for many reasons.“When you have a diverse group of people working together,then we all bring our own perspectives, our own sense of theworld, our own sense of reality, our own view of things,”Lehrmann said.

To encourage or achieve diversity, Bland said it may be uponthe person in the position to appoint someone to reachbeyond the names proffered to them.

“Some people for various reasons might not consider thatthey ought to be the person to have that job, or thechairmanship of the committee, or the role on the board,”Bland said. “I encourage you when you are in a position fornaming someone to fill a role that you don’t just look at thestuff that lands on your desk but you do a little bit ofoutreach effort.”

Unethical Conduct Toward Womenas Lawyers, Judges, and JusticesJustices Huddle and Lehrmann spoke about unethical behavior.

Lehrmann said she hasn’t seen any disrespect directed towardher or Justice Guzman during their time together on theSupreme Court. As a trial judge, Lehrmann said sheencountered unprofessional conduct, but she didn’t believe itwas because she was a woman.

Huddle said she hasn’t experienced unprofessional or unethicalconduct during her time as a judge. She did cite an instanceearly in her career when a more experienced lawyer chided herfor “wasting time” and “not knowing how things weresupposed to work” during a deposition.

“I was really frazzled and had only taken a handful ofdepositions before that,” Huddle said. She added that sheknew that her duty to her client was more important than theawkwardness she was experiencing.

Huddle said the experienced attorney wrote a letter to themanaging partner at the firm complaining about her “terriblebehavior.”

“I was mortified to read the letter,” Huddle said. “I thought,Am I going to get into trouble?”

Huddle was relieved after talking to the managing partner,who said the only conclusion he could draw from the letterwas that Huddle was gutting opposing counsel’s case.

“I try to address less-than-stellar behavior by being really good

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OPPOSITE: texas Supreme Court Justices Eva Guzman, debra Lehrmann, Jane bland, and Rebeca Aizpuru Huddle. PHotoS CouRtESy of tHE tEXAS

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216 Texas Bar Journal • March 2021 texasbar.com

on the merits and building a reputation for doing good workin a really professional way,” Huddle said. “Over time, peoplewho may have been inclined to misbehave know you or knowthat you’re not someone they can take advantage of.”

Lehrmann credited the pioneering women of Texas law forpaving the way and taking those hard steps for equalrecognition.

“So many women before us proved that women are very, verycapable of doing this work, and do so in an exceptionalmanner,” Lehrmann said. “We’re all very grateful for thosewomen who came before us.”

Overcoming ObstaclesJustices Guzman and Huddle talked about overcoming theirown obstacles and how attorneys and judges can overcometheirs.

Guzman said sometimes young lawyers can lack confidence,especially when first starting out in their careers. “I had tobe very deliberate in taking steps to overcome thoseinstances when I felt I just wasn’t confident in that nextmove,” Guzman said. “That includes seeking out peoplewho provide the type of support that might help inovercoming that; being very intentional and purposefulabout building a resume that was worthy of the position Isought.”

Huddle said a lingering obstacle that every lawyer faces is timemanagement. She said for many years she fretted over havinga crowded calendar and worried about being able to grow inher profession while still having time to take part in her kids’activities.

“For me, that has always been a challenge and I don’t thinkit’s going away,” Huddle said. “I have been pretty deliberatein managing it so that it doesn’t in turn become a new sourceof anxiety.”

To keep time management from becoming a source ofanxiety, Huddle said, attorneys sometimes have to say “no” toa worthy cause because it might not fit at the time. She alsoemphasized being easy on yourself and having space to say, Idon’t have to do everything every day or every week.

Impostor SyndromeJustices Bland and Huddle gave advice on how to overcomeimpostor syndrome and how to create a positive from it.

Bland emphasized that it is normal to feel impostorsyndrome. She encouraged attorneys to acknowledge that theycan do difficult things and to remove obstacles that can createthat anxiety.

“We evaluate others differently than we evaluate ourselves,”

Bland said. “Usually, we are harder on other people than we areon ourselves, but I think impostor syndrome is an exception tothat. It may help us to be more charitable to others who arestruggling in their role and judging their capabilities andqualifications for it.”

Huddle said she disagreed with the term “impostor syndrome,”as the syndrome designation gives a sense of permanence orindicates there is something wrong. She said newness or lackof experience is what leads to that anxiety.

“The first year of a new anything is going to be hard,” Huddlesaid. “Give yourself a break to work hard and work through toget experience.”

She added that the gravity of the task at hand is something thatleads to feeling inadequate.

“I sort of shudder to think about folks who don’t get nervouswhen they’re going to a big important hearing or deciding abig case,” Huddle said. “We should all feel the weight of whatwe’re doing and the importance of our job.”

Planning for the FutureThe four justices each provided advice to law students and younglawyers for planning their careers.

Guzman: “None of us could have anticipated a year ago what2020 would be like and the challenges we would face as ajudiciary, as lawyers, and as law students. Some of the thingsthat we learned we will be able to carry into the future. Foryounger lawyers and law students, be flexible, be willing tolearn, and be willing to adapt to changing circumstances—and be willing to use your network.”

Lehrmann: “We’re only human; we can only do what we cando. Sometimes we just have to let some things go so that thethings we really care about can turn out the way we wantthem to. Don’t think you have to have your whole lifeplanned out in front of you. Part of being your best is lettinggo sometimes and realizing that you don’t have to beeverything to every person all the time.”

Bland: “Loneliness is a killer. To law students and trialjudges, your work is stressful and it’s work that can bedone alone. Reach out to your colleagues, even if you feeluncomfortable doing it. Be that glue kid who spends sometime forging friendships on the bench or in your lawschool class. I’m very grateful for everything that trialjudges and all the judges in Texas have done to navigatethis year.”

Huddle: “Things in law, as in life, don’t always go accordingto plan. Try to stay nimble so that you feel ready to take anopportunity that you might not have planned. Trust yourselfto know that you’ll be able to judge a good opportunity foryou if one presents itself. Think big.” TBJ