Texas Lawyer: Zealous, But Not Overly So

September 8, 1991 — In a letter to the editor, a Texas Lawyer reader responded to an August 19, 1991, commentary by John W. Bickel II and William A. Brewer III regarding the Northern District of Texas’s professionalism creed. The letter disputes Bickel and Brewer’s claim that terms such as “courtesy,” “civility,” and “obnoxious behavior” lack clear definition, arguing that lawyers should already understand these concepts without judicial guidance. The writer further distinguishes between “zealous” and “zealot,” contending that attorneys can represent clients with passion while remaining civil and courteous.