Alumni Association Executive Committee 2008–2009
Nina Cortell
President
Nina Cortell is a partner in, and former chair of, Haynes and Boone's appellate section. She is a member of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee (which advises the Texas Supreme Court in connection with its rule-making authority). She is President of the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court, Chair of the State Bar Task Force on Women and Minorities (examining issues relating to the recruitment, retention and promotion of women and minorities in law firms and corporations), a member of the Executive Committee of the University of Texas Law School Alumni Association, Secretary of the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary in Dallas, a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Law Review Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas. She has served as chair of the State Bar Advanced Appellate Course and the Dallas County Bench/Bar Conference. She has also chaired (at the request of Chief Judge Joe Fish) a committee overseeing the appointment of a U.S. magistrate and (at the request of then-Chief Judge Barefoot Sanders) a task force charged with studying the efficiency of the federal courts in North Texas.
Ms. Cortell was named one of the “The Best Lawyers in America,” Commercial Litigation by Woodward/White, Inc. in 2006. She was also named Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers and one of the Top 50 Female Texas Super Lawyers by TexasMonthly Magazine in 2003 - 2005. Ms. Cortell was named one of the top appellate lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine in 2003 and 2005. In 1999, she received the Louise B. Raggio Award for significant contributions toward the advancement of women in the legal profession. She continues her work mentoring women lawyers in her role as an advisory board member of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association.
Ms. Cortell is married to Dr. Robert L. Fine, who practices at Baylor Hospital, and they are the proud parents of Lauren (a singer/songwriter who is attending medical school at the University of Pennsylvania), Rachel (a philosophy major at the University of Colorado at Boulder) and Becca (who is a junior in high school).
Recent Representative Cases
Obtained ruling allowing constitutional challenge of Texas public school finance system. West Orange-Cove Consolidated I.S.D. v. Felipe Alanis, Commissioner of Education, 107 S.W.3d 558 (Tex. 2003). Following remand, trial and subsequent direct appeal to the Texas Supreme Court, the Court struck down the school finance system on constitutional grounds. Neeley v. West Orange-Cove C.I.S.D.,176 S.W.3d 746 (Tex. 2005).
Affirmed dismissal of qui tam action under False Claims Act. United States of America, ex rel Williams v. Bell, 417 F.3d 450 (5th Cir. 2005).
Set aside adverse judgment in eminent domain case based
upon federal preemption. The Burlington Northern
and Santa Fe Railway Company v. The City of Houston, Texas,
171 S.W.3d 240 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2005).
Upheld contractual jury waiver provision in mandamus proceeding. In re C-Span Entertainment, Inc. and Sunil Dharod, 162 S.W.3d 422 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005).
Recent Articles and Speeches
Mark Twain’s Guide for Young Lawyers (and Older Lawyers Seeking a Review), Texas Bar Journal, April 2005.
The Charge: Top 5 Things You Need to Know, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, June 2005
Lessons Learned the Hard Way, 15th Annual Conference on State and Federal Appeals, University of Texas School of Law, June 2005.