About the Author
G. Reading Powell
Professor Jerry Powell is a former trial lawyer and retired professor of law at the Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas. He is the author of a series of legal thrillers set in Texas in the 1890’s. The central character is an old warhorse of a trial lawyer named Catfish Calloway.
Powell, a native Wacoan, earned his JD from Baylor Law in 1977, and was ranked first in his class. During his time at Baylor Law, he was a member of the national mock trial team and the national moot court team, and executive editor of the Baylor Law Review.
He joined the Dallas law firm of Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox in 1977, and had an active litigation practice with the firm. He made partner in 1982. In 1986, he returned to Baylor Law to teach, and in 1987 he was appointed the Abner V. McCall Professor of Evidence Law. Powell also has been named a Master Teacher by Baylor University, the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty members.
He has written and spoken extensively on evidence, procedure and trial advocacy topics and has co-authored two books on Texas evidence law, A Practical Guide to the Texas Rules of Evidence and Texas Rules of Evidence with Objections.
Powell is an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a professional association of experienced trial lawyers, and was appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas to the Court Reorganization Task Force. He has served on the Administration of Rules of Evidence Committee for the State Bar of Texas. Additionally, he has taught judicial training courses for the Texas Center for the Judiciary.
Professor Powell and his wife, Barbara, have two children: Colin, a Baylor Law graduate; and Calley, a Baylor University graduate.