When President-elect Randy Sorrels appointed his wife to serve on the Texas Bar Foundation board of trustees, it caused a dust-up at this month's Texas Bar board meeting.

Alexandra “Alex” Farias-Sorrels of Houston will serve on the foundation's board for three years beginning June 1, after the bar's board voted to approve her appointment on April 26. Funded by lawyer-members, the bar foundation is a voluntary organization that distributes grants to organizations working to enhance the rule of law, improve the justice system, provide legal aid, boost legal ethics and other functions.

When board members questioned Farias-Sorrels' appointment, Sorrels explained that the bar foundation recommended nominees who were all men, which wasn't acceptable to him. He wanted to add diversity to the board and has appointed four women this year.