Personal Life
I’ve been married to my wife, Diane for over 43 years. We have been in the Dallas area for over four decades, and raised two (now grown) sons. We are active members of our church, and I am a serious daily student of the Bible, including Greek and Hebrew studies. I love the outdoors, and enjoy hunting, hiking, and camping. With these passions, I am a member of Audubon Dallas, and a lifetime member of both the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association.
Philosophy
I apply the Constitution and laws according to their plain meaning, and I will guard the rights of everyone to seek justice under our laws by being fair and impartial in applying the law. I take seriously my oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and Texas. I believe all people are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For almost 18 years I served Texas as a trial judge, and after that an appellate justice, so I bring years of experience from having decided thousands of cases, hundreds of jury trials, and hundreds of appeals. My experience allows me to consider situations fairly and impartially based on the law applied to the facts of each case.
Honors & Associations:
- Trial Judge of the Year 2005, American Board of Trial Advocates – Dallas
- 2002 Outstanding Judicial Pro Bono Services, Dallas Bar Association & Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
- Master of the Bench, William ‘Mac’ Taylor Inn of Court, 2017—present
- Barrister, Patrick Higginbotham Inn of American Inns of Court, 1996-1998
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 1998
- Life Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation, 2006
- Member, Curriculum Committee, Texas Center for the Judiciary, 2002-2003
- Instructor, Texas College for Judicial Studies, May, 2002, May, 2003
- Adjunct Instructor in Law, Trial Techniques Program, Emory University Law School, 1998, 2000
Community Involvement:
- Member, Dallas County Juvenile Board, 2004, 2005, 2006
- Member, Dallas County Juvenile Justice Charter School Board, 2004, 2005, 2006
- Presided over Saturday adoptions on Dallas Adoption Day 2006
- Presided over evening court cases for convenience of parties in poverty and near poverty cases 2000-2006
- Member, Board of Directors, Audubon—Dallas
- Trail Steward (maintenance) at City of Dallas’s Cedar Ridge Preserve managed through Audubon–Dallas
Education:
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., 1984
- Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Air Law & Commerce, 1983-1984
- Author, Comment, The Impact of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 on Buyers in the Ordinary Course of Business, 48 J. Air L. & Com. 835 (1983)
- Fraternity: Phi Delta Phi
- Justice, Moot Court Board 1983-1984 and ABA Regional Competition Coordinator 1984
- Member, Barristers, 1983-1984
- Competition Coordinator, Mock Trial Club, 1981
- University of Connecticut, B.A. cum laude, 1977, in Philosophy and Greek
- Dallas Theological Seminary, 1977-1981, Hebrew and Greek studies