Biography

Judge Susan Criss was elected to the 212th District Court of Galveston County, Texas in 1998. The 212th District Court is a trial court that handles both felony criminal and civil cases.

Judge Criss is the Director for District 11 for the National Association of Women Judges (N.A.W.J.) covering Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. She is the Project Director of the Color of Justice Video Project for Texas. Judge Criss  had a video created featuring Texas minority judges, lawyers, and law students who encourage minority children to pursue careers in the law and the judiciary.  She has also participated on the N.A.W.J. Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination. Judge Criss joined the National Association of Women Judges in 2001.

Judge Criss serves as the chairperson of the Gulf Coast MHMR Task Force on Jail Diversion for the Mentally Ill. That task force is dedicated to pursuing treatment for the mentally ill and diverting them from the criminal justice system.

Shortly after coming on the bench Judge Criss set up the first court web site in Galveston County at www.co.galveston.tx.us/judgecriss. The  web site includes a section called Court Class for Kids. This section teaches children about what happens in court and what to do if they become witnesses.

 Judge Criss launched a program to provide Spanish speaking probationers in her court with written translations of probation terms, conditions and rules.

Judge Criss received a 26th Annual Telly Award Winner 2005 ,along with Stonefilms of Texas, Inc. for producing "The Color Of Justice" video. The Fred C. Johnson Foundation, Inc. recognized Judge as one of it's "People making A Difference Honorees" in 2005. The Texas Democratic Women gave Judge Criss the Outstanding Woman Officeholder in Texas Award for 2004. The Gulf Coast National Alliance for the Mentally Ill named her their honoree for 2003. Judge Criss was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Galveston County in 1994.

Judge Criss is board certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Judge Criss belongs to the Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar, the Texas Bar Foundation, the Galveston County Community Supervision and Corrections Board, the Galveston County Juvenile Probation Board, the Galveston County Purchasing Board and the Galveston County Criminal Justice Board. Judge Criss also served on the Board of Directors for Gleanings From the Harvest, an organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in Galveston.

Prior to serving on the bench Judge Criss worked as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. Judge Criss was an Assistant District Attorney in the Galveston County Criminal
District Attorney's Office from 1987 to 1996. Judge Criss became a Special Prosecutor for Child and Elder Abuse cases in 1993. While prosecuting child abuse cases she was a founding member of the Galveston County Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force and the Galveston County Child Fatality Review Team. Judge Criss helped establish the Galveston County Child Advocacy Center.

Judge Criss has also belonged to the Texas County and District Attorneys Association, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Galveston County Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, and the Galveston County Young Lawyers Association.