Fulfilling a campaign promise, State Bar of Texas President-Elect Joe Longley has appointed a task force to examine how much transparency there is, or isn't, at the State Bar.

State Bar President Tom Vick announced the task force on Nov. 17.

Longley, an Austin solo practitioner who will become the State Bar president in June 2018, explains his reason for appointing the task force by saying, “I hope to make the bar more transparent.”

There have been transparency problems at the State Bar in the past, Longley says. As an example, he alleges that the bar has taken the position not to give as much information as is possible when an open records request is made. He says he has had difficulty obtaining information when he makes open records requests to the bar.

“I'm hoping to change the attitude we've seen in the past,” Longley says.

Vick, an attorney with Vick Carney in Weatherford, says in a written statement, “The State Bar is fully committed to transparency. The State Bar's records are subject to the Public Information Act, and when information is requested we respond as required. I am unaware of any instance to the contrary.”

Mark Ticer, a member of the Law Office of Mark A. Ticer, serves as chairman of the 12-member task force. Ticer did not return a phone call for comment.

Longley says the task force's work could continue after he takes office as the bar president next year.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, State Bar of Texas President-Elect Joe Longley has appointed a task force to examine how much transparency there is, or isn't, at the State Bar.

State Bar President Tom Vick announced the task force on Nov. 17.

Longley, an Austin solo practitioner who will become the State Bar president in June 2018, explains his reason for appointing the task force by saying, “I hope to make the bar more transparent.”

There have been transparency problems at the State Bar in the past, Longley says. As an example, he alleges that the bar has taken the position not to give as much information as is possible when an open records request is made. He says he has had difficulty obtaining information when he makes open records requests to the bar.

“I'm hoping to change the attitude we've seen in the past,” Longley says.

Vick, an attorney with Vick Carney in Weatherford, says in a written statement, “The State Bar is fully committed to transparency. The State Bar's records are subject to the Public Information Act, and when information is requested we respond as required. I am unaware of any instance to the contrary.”

Mark Ticer, a member of the Law Office of Mark A. Ticer, serves as chairman of the 12-member task force. Ticer did not return a phone call for comment.

Longley says the task force's work could continue after he takes office as the bar president next year.