Not every new lawyer enjoys such a heady swearing-in experience as Temple Ramming. After all, how many young law school grads are personal friends with judges and have parents with a flare for the, shall we say, flamboyant?

Young Temple with parents, Jeannette and Larry Ramming in tow, arrived in the bar at Tony's the other night with Judge Mike McSpadden and his steady squeeze Anne Van Horn. And there in front of the early bar crowd, McSpadden did the honors making Temple a full-fledged legal eagle. (All he needs now is a placement.)

The swearing-in delighted the sophisticated bar flies that just happened to include a few attorneys, who applauded and congratulated Temple. Even piano man Louie Carrington joined the celebration by playing "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" in a salute to Temple's plans to pursue a career in criminal defense law. The Rammings, McSpadden and Van Horn celebrated over dinner — in the bar.

A former Trinity University football player and grad assistant coach, Temple recently graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, where he served as president of the Criminal Law Association. Of late, he has been interning with McSpadden.

An American in Paris

Make that two Americans, at least, actually two Houstonians who love Paris in the summer (except for this week's heat wave). Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's Byron Hood and wife Karen are in the City of Light, as is their tradition, for various activities including Thursday's historic changing of the American flag at the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette. For his service in the American Revolution under George Washington, an American flag flies year round at his grave in Picpus Cemetery in the 12th arrondissement.

The Hoods are invited each year by their friend Col. Scott Barker, assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Paris, to join the highly-orchestrated ceremony attended by numerous dignitaries including U.S. Ambassador Charles Rivkin and his wife Susan. The Fourth of July activities (even though this year it occurred on July 1) included a reception that evening in the gardens of the U.S. Embassy.

The Hoods travel plans include a dinner at Le Jules Verne and a July 4 party at Cervin hosiery biggie Yves Riquet's Paris Boogie Speakeasy. Their French travels through much of the month include visits to Aquitaine and Brittany and a layover in Paris on Bastille Day.

Big win for a little lady

Congratulations Episcopal High School Summa Cum Laude grad Stephanie Styles, who performed on Broadway earlier this week as a top finalist in the National High School Musical Theater Awards competition. She was chosen from among 44 entrants to reprise her role as Janet van de Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone for the on-stage competition at the Marquis Theatre.

The so-called Jimmy Awards competition, named for famed Broadway producer James Nederlander, included private coaching, master classes and rehearsals. Close to 1,000 high schools from across the country participated in the second annual competition that begins in 22 regional theaters. Stephanie was one of three young women to perform under the bright lights of the competition. Highlight of the night was getting up-close-and-personal with emcee Kathie Lee Gifford and Houston's own Broadway sensation Tommy Tune, who was one of the award presenters.

Prelude to that national honor was her receipt of the 2010 Tommy Tune Award for Best Leading Actress in April at Theatre Under the Stars' high school musical competition. Her parents, Bridget and John Styles Jr., are beaming over their talented daughter's success. Stephanie continues her studies this fall at the University of Michigan.

Political partying

Just because it's mid-summer doesn't mean there aren't enough warm bodies around to make a go of a political campaign fundraiser. Just ask Olan Boudreaux, a candidate for the 190th Civil District Court.

He packed the second-floor party room at Ocean's Restaurant with supporters who made a field day of the restaurant offerings. They supped on new ceviches and salmon and shrimp appetizers and washed 'em down with Ocean's hand-poured, fresh-juice margaritas.

Boudreaux fans hosting the gathering were former Gov. Mark White, Grant Cook, Benjamin "B.J." Johnson, Neal Manne and the Susman Godfrey law firm. In the mix were the candidate's wife Maryann Boudreaux, Jim Olive, Joe Ahmad, Boris Hidalgo, Jim Plummer, Caroline Starry LeBlanc and Jared LeBlanc and Sarah Starry.