The overwhelming rejection of proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct looms like a dark cloud over what otherwise was a successful year for State Bar of Texas President Terry Tottenham.

With almost 44 percent of the licensed attorneys eligible to vote casting ballots in this year’s referendum, the proposals went down to defeat, most by almost 80 percent of the vote. [See "Referendum Rejection," Texas Lawyer, Feb. 28, 2011, page 1.]