Education

1986South Texas College of Law Houston, Texas
Doctor of Jurisprudence

1983-1984University of Texas School of Law Austin, Texas

1982 University of Texas Austin, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Government

1979-1980Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas

1979 La Marque High School La Marque, Texas

Professional experience

1999-present212th District Court Galveston, Texas
District Judge

1996-1998Law Offices of Susan Criss Galveston, Texas

1987-1996Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office

Assistant Criminal District Attorney Galveston, Texas

1993-1996Special Prosecutor for Child & Elder Abuse

1989-1993Felony Trial Attorney

1988-1989Chief of the Misdemeanor Division

1985-1986Law Clerk

1983-1984The Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Environmental Protection Division Austin, Texas
Law Clerk

1981-1982University of Texas Austin, Texas
Assistant Ombudsman

Accreditations

Board Certification in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Licensed to Practice Law 1986

Awards received

September 2004State Bar of Texas Honorary Resolution for producing the Color of Justice Video.

2004Texas Democratic Women Outstanding Woman Officeholder of 2004

2003Gulf Coast National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Honoree for

1994Outstanding Young Lawyer of Galveston County

Professional Activities

2003-2004Color of Justice Video Project Director of Texas

Accomplishments

Launched the Color of Justice Video Project in Texas. This video features minority judges, lawyers and law students encouraging minority school children to pursue careers in the law and the judiciary

Created the first court web site in Galveston County. The web site informs attorneys, law enforcement, witnesses, jurors, the media and the public about court schedules, policies, rules and necessary juror information

Created a "Court Class for Children" section of the website. This class teaches children about what happens in court and what to do if they become witnesses in a trial

Toughened restrictions for sex offenders on probation in the 212th District Court requiring polygraph examinations and limiting internet access to children

Launched a program that provides Spanish speaking probationers with written Spanish translations of forms containing probation conditions, rules, terms and other necessary information

Helped establish the Galveston County Child Advocacy Center, Galveston County Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force and the Galveston County Child Fatality Review Task Force

Professional memberships

October 12, 2004 to presentTrial Judges Legislative Committee, Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas.

2002 to presentThe Gulf Coast Center MHMR Jail Diversion Task Force, chairperson.

2004 to presentThe Mental Health Task Force of Galveston County, member

2001 to presentThe National Association of Women Judges, member.

2004 to presentNAWJ Board of Directors, District 11 Director ( Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas).

Texas Bar Foundation, member.

1999 to presentJudicial Section of the Texas State Bar.

1986 to presentGalveston County Bar Association, past president; 1996-1997,member.

1999 to presentGalveston County Community Supervision & Corrections Board.

1999 to presentGalveston County Juvenile Probation Board.

1999 to presentGalveston County Pre-Trial Release Board, chairperson; 2003-2004, member; 1999 to present

2002 to presentGalveston County Criminal Justice Board.

2002 to presentGalveston County Purchasing Board.

Community activities

February 2005 to presentLeague of Women Voters of Galveston County, 2002 to present, Historian

2002 to presentGalveston County Genealogy Society

Political Organizations

Texas Democratic Women, Finance Council

Galveston County Democratic Club, past president

Galveston County Coalition of Black Democrats

Neighborhood Democrats

North Galveston County Democrats

West Galveston County Democrats

Roadwomen

Texas Democratic Party Sustaining Member

Articles

Nov. 26, 2004"Thanks for Support in Time of Trial" Galveston County Daily News

Aug. 17, 2003"Mother Nature Proved Me Wrong" Galveston County Daily News

April 28, 2003"Cuts to Budget Will Cost Taxpayers More" Galveston County Daily News, ( regarding MHMR budget)

Oct. 20, 2002"Isle Can be Proud To Claim Suffragist" Galveston County Daily News

July 1, 2002"Far Too Many Mentally Ill Are Incarcerated" Beaumont Examiner

June 25, 2002"Time To Respond To Mental Illness Crisis" Galveston County Daily News

Nov. 17, 2001"Conference Shows Resolve of NYC Justice System" Galveston County Daily News, (regarding response to Sept. 11, 2001)

Aug. 21,1997"Legislators Give Children a Chance" Galveston Daily News,

"Equal Protection Under The Law For All Citizens" Galveston Daily News

Speeches & Lectures

January 6, 2005Mental Health Legislative Forum, Mental Health& Substance Abuse Task Force& Gulf Coast MHMR Center, panel member, Alvin, Texas

December 7, 2004New Judges School, Texas Center for the Judiciary, "National Association of Women Judges" lunch speaker, Austin, TX

October 10, 2004NAWJ Annual Conference"Judges & the Media", panel member, Indianapolis,

October 4, 2004 South Texas College of Law,"Being a Government Servant" panel member, Houston, TX

2004 (numerous) Color of Justice Video/DVD presentations

March 2004Trinity Episcopal Church Lenten Series, speaker Galveston, TX

March 30, 2004Invited Testimony before House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services 78th Legislative Session Public Hearing

July 2003State Bar of Texas Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, lecturer "Domestic Violence" CLE credit

June 5, 200318th Annual Texas Community MHMR Center Staff and Trustee Training Conference," Jail Diversion Services in Texas" panel member Houston, TX

May 12, 2003Galveston Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony, speaker,

March 26, 2003National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Rally at the State Capitol. Speech featured in the PBS documentary "Are the Kids Allright?"

March 14, 2003Eighth Annual Psychiatric Update, UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, "Cruel and Unusual Punishment? Scope and Possible Solutions to the Warehousing of the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System" co-presenter with Dr. Mike Fuller, Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston, Texas

October 3, 2002NAMI Gulf Coast Mental Awareness Week " Building Communities of Hope" Dinner guest speaker Alvin, TX

October 21, 2001"A View From the Bench" sponsored by St. Mary’s Law school panel member Galveston, TX CLE credit

January 22, 2001Texas Probation Association Regional Conference, "Special Concerns in the Treatment and Supervision of Adult Sex Offenders" co-presenter with Dr. Collier Cole, Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston, TX

October 21, 1995University Of Texas Medical School, " Growing Older and Wiser in Galveston: The Realities of Aging Conference" panel member

October 15, 1994Daughters of the American Revolution, "Child Abuse" lunch speaker

October 13, 1994Child Protective Services Seminar, "Medical Evidence in Child abuse Cases", lecturer

April 19, 1994University of Houston at Clear Lake Legal studies Association, " Laws that Protect Children" speaker

April & June 1994Galveston Police Department POST Training, "Elder Abuse", lecturer March,

February 15, 1994Galveston County Child Advocacy Project, " Sex Offender Treatment", panel member

January 15, 1994Mystery Writers of the Gulf Coast, " Child Abuse Prosecution" speaker

November and December 1993Galveston Police Department POST Training, " Child Abuse," lecturer January 1994, September, October,

November 14, 1993Texas City Police Department Training, " Sexual Assault Laws",

November 10, 1993Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force Training, " Perpetrator Confessions" panel member

November 1, 1993Women’s Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, " Child Abuse Laws and Court Procedure", lecturer

October 28, 1993Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Felony Division Training, "Child Abuse Laws and Trials",

October 15, 1993Rotary Club of West Galveston County, "Child Abuse Prosecution".

September 10, 1993 Galveston County Criminal defense Lawyers Association, " Child Abuse Laws",

Past Professional Memberships

Galveston County Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Board

1996 to 1998Galveston County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, ;past president

1995 to 1997Galveston County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee,

1998Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association,

1987 to 1996Texas District and County Attorneys Association,

Galveston County Child Abuse & Neglect Task Force, founding member

Galveston County Child Death Review Task Force, founding member

1987 to 1997Galveston County Young Lawyers Association; secretary 1992 to 1993

1992College of the State Bar of Texas

Past Community Activities

Big Brother Big Sisters of Gulf Coast Board of Directors

Women’s Resource and Crisis Center Advisory Board

Church

Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston, Texas 2004 to present

Grace Episcopal Church, Galveston, TX

St. George’s Episcopal Church, Texas City, TX Vestry Board Member & Lector

St. Vincent’s Episcopal House Board of Directors., Galveston, TX 2002 to 2005 & 1999 to 2000 Program Committee Chair

Bishop’s Task Force on Referred Resolutions, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1999 to 2000