FEBRUARY 19-20, 2026
The Central Texas Federal Bench Bar Conference is an annual continuing legal education event in Austin, TX, that brings together the esteemed judiciary and legal professionals who serve the Divisions of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Who attends our conference?
JUDGES
ATTORNEYS
COURT STAFF
ACROSS: San Antonio | Alpine | Austin | Del Rio | El Paso | Midland | Waco
The two-day Central Texas Federal Bench Bar Conference cultivates collegiality among attorneys across various legal disciplines, while advancing the highest standards of excellence and professionalism in federal practice. The Conference offers:
Programming focused on federal practice, emerging legal issues, and procedural developments
Timely topics specific to our region and divisions
A minimum of six hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit
FAQs
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The Central Texas Bench Bar, a nonprofit organization, hosts the event, now in its third year.
Inspired by the encouragement of current and former judges of the Western District of Texas, a group of attorneys collaborated with the leadership of the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association to develop the conference, modeled after similar gatherings held in other federal judicial districts across the country.
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With seven divisions spanning over 92,000 square miles, the Western District of Texas (WDTX) is among the largest and most geographically diverse federal judicial districts in the nation. Recognizing the practical limits of comprehensive coverage, the Central Texas Federal Bench Bar Conference will focus on current issues and trends within the Austin, San Antonio, and Waco Divisions.
However, attorneys, judges, and court staff from all seven WDTX Divisions and beyond attend every year. Judges and practitioners from divisions outside of Central Texas regularly speak or serve on panels at the conference. The Conference offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the federal bench, connect with colleagues across jurisdictions, and stay current on legal trends shaping practice throughout Texas and the broader region.
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Our programming committee, consisting of a diverse group of federal judges and lawyers, chooses timely issues and trends affecting Central Texas’ legal community. Explore our past conference programs to see some of the topics we’ve previously covered.
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One of the driving purposes of the Central Texas Federal Bench Bar Conference is to build connections and collegiality between and among federal practitioners and judges. As such, the Conference is in-person only.
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We are actively seeking partners, sponsors, and speakers who can enrich the programming and broaden the scope of our offerings.
Whether you or your firm are interested in participating, sponsoring, or have recommendations for speakers and topics, we welcome your ideas and collaboration. Together, we can ensure the Conference remains a premier forum for federal legal education, professional development, and meaningful networking. Please contact us for more information.
“The Central Texas Bar Conference is very important to the Western District of Texas because it allows judges to speak directly with attorneys—to share our preferences in court and help them become more effective advocates for their clients.”
– Chief Judge Alia Moses