TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER

Transcription

1 TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER Regional Judges Seminar Tyler October 20 22, 2014 Michael Acuna Dallas 2014 Main St, Rm 331 Dallas, TX (o) Robby Chapman Program Director TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) Esmeralda Garcia Judge Houston 1400 Lubbock St Rm 214 Houston, TX (o) Mark Goodner Program Attorney & Deputy Counsel TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) Ryan Henry Attorney At Law The Law Office of Ryan Henry, PLLC 1380 Pantheon Way, Suite 215 San Antonio, TX (o) Timothy Kirwin Judge Hedwig Village 955 Piney Point Rd Houston, TX (o) Richard Morse Information Security Officer Office of Court Administration P.O. Box Austin, TX (o) Marian Moseley City of Coppell 130 Town Center Blvd Coppell, TX (o) Richard Olivo Attorney Austin 700 Lavaca St., Suite 1400 Austin, TX (o) Kimberly Piechowiak Domestic Violence Resource Attorney Office of Court Administration P.O. Box Austin, TX (o) Robin Ramsay City of Denton 601 E. Hickory, Suite D Denton, TX (o) raramsay@cityofdenton.com Lester Rorick City of Pasadena P.O. Box 1575 Pasadena, TX (o) judgerorick@ci.pasadena.tx.us Edward Spillane College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX (o) espillane@cstx.gov Ryan Kellus Turner General Counsel and Director of Education TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) rturner@tmcec.com Tomas Yufik, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology St. Edwards University 5310 Joe Sayers Ave. #220 Austin, TX tomasy@stedwards.edu

2 2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas fax FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES MICHAEL ACUNA Michael Acuña received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Bar in He started his legal career at the City of Houston in 1993 as a municipal court prosecutor. In April 1997, Judge Acuña moved to the Land Use Division where he litigated nuisance abatement and sexually oriented business cases in state and federal courts. In November 1999, he was hired by the City of Dallas where it created the position of Assistant Chief Prosecutor for him. He served in that capacity until August 2004 when he was first appointed a full-time municipal judge. Since then, Judge Acuña has presided over various dockets including traffic, penal code, animal control, bond forfeitures, environmental pollution, urban rehabilitation and 8-liner dockets. Judge Acuña represents the City of Dallas on the Dallas County Bail Bond Board. Judge Acuña has been the region III representative on TMCEC/TMCA board of directors since June the Fall He also serves as cochair for the board s Education and Budget and Finance Committees. He has been a regular speaker for TMCEC and other entities on many subjects since 1994 including municipal court complaints, bail bond forfeitures, pretrial hearings, court interpreters, cross-examination, Chapter 54 and 125 cases, attorney general opinions, sexting, bullying and online impersonation. ROBBY CHAPMAN Robby Chapman is Program Director for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. Prior to joining the Center, Mr. Chapman served as an Assistant District Attorney for Nueces County, Assistant City Attorney and City Prosecutor for the City of Cedar Park, and a criminal defense attorney. While with the City of Cedar Park, Mr. Chapman received the Merit Certification in Municipal Court Prosecution from the Texas City Attorneys Association. Mr. Chapman received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary s University School of Law. ESMERALDA GARCIA Judge Esmeralda Essie Peña Garcia has served as a municipal judge for the City of Houston for 27 years. In 1987, Judge Garcia was appointed as an Associate Judge, and in 2000 was appointed as a full-time Judge, and currently presides over one of Houston s Jury Courts. She received her BA and Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center. During 16 years in private practice, Judge Garcia specialized in criminal defense with concentration in Juvenile Justice defense. She handled some of Harris County s high-profile Juvenile Court cases, including the Leija Children Buffalo Bayou Drownings, Teen s Russian Roulette Murder, Teen Killing of Grandmother and The Peña-Ertman Gang Murders cases. Prior to law school, Judge Garcia worked for Children s Protective Services as Supervisor of Abuse Team. Judge Garcia has served on the TMCA and TMCEC Board of Directors since 2012, and active with many professional and community organizations. She has earned Lifetime Committeeman with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, serving on the Go Tejano Committee and the International Committee.

3 MARK GOODNER Mark Goodner serves as the for the City of Woodcreek and is the Program Attorney and Deputy Counsel for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. Prior to joining the Center, he worked in civil litigation in Austin. Mr. Goodner graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with a juris doctorate and certification in the Graduate Portfolio Program in Dispute Resolution in May of While in law school, he worked in the mediation clinic, was a finalist in the Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court Competition, and served on the executive board of Assault & Flattery. RYAN HENRY Ryan Henry graduated with honors from New Mexico State University with dual bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology in He attended law school at Texas Tech School of Law and graduated in May of While attending law school, Ryan began clerking for the Lubbock City Attorney's Office and began prosecuting in municipal court. As a result, he began working with municipalities and their municipal courts, even before he graduated from law school. So began his career supporting local governments. Upon graduation, Ryan began working in Brownsville, Texas, defending governmental entities in the area. In June of 2002, Ryan moved to San Antonio and continued working with municipalities with a San Antonio law firm at which he eventually became a partner in In 2012, Ryan started the Law Offices of Ryan PLLC taking representation of local governments to the next level by integrating technology into the efficient and cost saving art of practice. TIMOTHY KIRWIN Mr. Kirwin, a native Houstonian, grew up in Katy, Texas. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Kirwin returned to Texas and earned a Master's Degree in Public History from the University of Houston. Mr. Kirwin worked as Assistant Curator at the Houston Fire Museum where he preserved historical artifacts related to the history of fire service and educated the public on fire safety. Mr. Kirwin then worked as Archivist at Baylor College of Medicine where he chronicled the institutional history of the medical school. In 2003, Mr. Kirwin entered the University of Houston Law Center and participated on the Mock Trial Team, a team he continues to assist with coaching today. While in law school, Mr. Kirwin clerked with the Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Office drafting criminal appellate briefs to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. After graduating from the University of Houston Law Center, the City of Missouri City, Texas, hired Mr. Kirwin as Assistant City Attorney and Prosecutor. During his tenure at Missouri City, Mr. Kirwin provided legal advice to the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Parks Board, and all department and divisions including Parks, Police, Public Works, Fire, Human Resources, Finance, Planning, Code Enforcement, Communications, City Secretary, and City Manager's office. Since joining the Randle Law Office in April 2010 Mr. Kirwin has served as municipal prosecutor for the cities of Bellaire, Katy, Fulshear, Hunters Creek Village, Jersey Village, Mont Belvieu, Missouri City, Surfside Beach, Hardin, Spring Valley Village, and Sugar Land. In July 2011 Mr. Kirwin was appointed Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Hedwig Village. In 2013, Mr. Kirwin became the City Attorney and Chief Legal Officer for the Village of Surfside Beach and the City of Hardin.

4 RICHARD MORSE Richard Morse serves as the Information Security Officer for the Texas Office of Court Administration. He is responsible for the Information Security program for OCA which includes providing security awareness to the Texas Appellate Courts, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, and numerous Judicial entities throughout the state. Richard began his career in information security as a Communication and Information Officer in the United States Air Force. He received his B.B.A. in Management Information Systems from New Mexico State University and a M.A. in Computer Resource and Information Management from Webster University. MARIAN MOSELEY Judge Moseley has been the for the City of Coppell since Judge Moseley was a prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney, Midland County Attorney, and a chief felony prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney. She practiced civil and criminal law attorney in Midland and family law with Raggio and Raggio in Dallas. Judge Moseley received her B.A. Degree, with Honors, in 1974 and her J.D. in 1976, both from the University of Texas. Judge Moseley was born and raised on a farm in Burkburnett, Texas. She has been married for 31 years to Jim Moseley, an attorney practicing in Dallas. They have a daughter, Becky, an attorney and a son, Jimmy, who has a financial planning practice. RICHARD OLIVO Judge Rick Olivo was educated in Spain and Egypt and worked as an Intern with the US Mission at NATO in Belgium. He graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso in The CIA had a freeze on jobs so he became an International Man of Mystery working as a diamond and gemstone buyer with Silverman Jewelery Mfg. Eventually he graduated with a Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Judge Olivo started his legal career with the Business & Technology Team at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP in San Diego, CA. In 1999, he started his solo practice in El Paso, TX, where he specialized in transactional, business, real estate, probate and criminal law. The City of El Paso appointed him as an Associate Judge from In 2008 he was appointed to the unexpired term to sit as Judge of Municipal Court 4 in El Paso. He was elected in 2009 and 2013 to the same position until he moved his law office to Austin this year. Judge Olivo has been married to Sharon for 25 years and they have two children, a very talented actor and artist who will allow him to retire in 20 years. KIMBERLY PIECHOWIAK Ms. Piechowiak is the Domestic Violence Resource Attorney for the Texas Office of Court Administration. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice in 1989 and her J.D. from St. Mary s University School of Law in Before coming to the OCA, Kimberly prosecuted domestic violence cases for 20 years, first with the Bexar County District Attorney and then the San Antonio City Attorney s Office. While with the City, Kimberly implemented and supervised the family violence prosecution program at San Antonio Municipal Court. She is a TCLEOSE Certified Police Instructor who has been training law enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges for 15 years on the issue of domestic violence for many local, state, and national agencies, including the San Antonio Police Training

5 Academy, the National District Attorneys Association, the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section, Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, and the Texas Council on Family Violence. ROBIN RAMSAY Robin Ramsay is currently a licensed attorney and the Presiding Municipal Judge for the City of Denton. Judge Ramsay received his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and his law degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Ramsay served as Students Attorney for the University of North Texas and as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law. After leaving the University of North Texas and prior to his current appointment, Judge Ramsay practiced law with the Hammerle Law Firm with offices in Lewisville and Denton. Judge Ramsay has received his accreditation for the American Academy of Attorney Mediators and currently acts as a Mediator for both pre-litigation and litigated matters by assignment of court and at the request of the parties or their attorneys. Judge Ramsay also serves as alternate Mental Health Magistrate for Denton County at the assignment of the Denton County Probate Court. Judge Ramsay is a past-president of the Texas Municipal Courts Association and currently serves as the 2 nd Vice President. LESTER RORICK Lester Rorick has spent the last seven years as the presiding judge for the City of Pasadena. He has served as the assistant city attorney and the tax collection attorney for Pasadena, the city attorney for Pearland and Shore Acres. Judge Lester received his Juris Doctorate in 1977 from the South Texas College of Law. He is currently a member of the board of directors for the Texas Municipal Court Association and the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. He is also on the board of directors of the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo; and a member of the advisory board for the San Jacinto Day Foundation. EDWARD SPILLANE Edward Spillane is the Presiding Municipal Judge for College Station since May Prior to taking that position, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Brazos County for eight years and as an associate for the law firm Fulbright and Jaworski for two years. Judge Spillane received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He served as President of the Texas Municipal Courts Association. Judge Spillane currently is the Region VII director on the TMCEC/TMCA board and represents Texas Municipal Courts on the Judicial Conduct Commission. RYAN KELLUS TURNER Ryan Kellus Turner is General Counsel and Director of Education for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. Prior to joining the Center in 1999, he served as Briefing Attorney for Judge Sharon Keller at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Mr. Turner obtained his juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with highest honors from St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, where he now teaches as an adjunct faculty member

6 in the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences. In 2004 and 2013 he was the recipient of the School s Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award. Mr. Turner is currently Deputy City Attorney for the City of Dripping Springs and has served as a Special Assistant County Attorney for Kendall County. In 2011, he was an advisory member on the Texas Judicial Council s Juvenile Justice Committee. The Committee was charged with assessing the impact of school discipline and school-based policing on referrals to Texas courts and to make public policy recommendations. In 2012, Mr. Turner was named Co-Chair of the Texas Judicial Council Legislative Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice. A native Texan, Mr. Turner was raised in the north Texas town of Vernon. He is the co-author of the books Lone Star Justice: A Comprehensive Overview of the Texas Criminal Justice System and The Municipal Judges Book. TOMAS YUFIK, PH.D., Dr. Yufik is an assistant professor of psychology at St. Edward s University in Austin. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and M.A. in Psychology from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Prior to his current position, Dr. Yufik was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, a psychology intern with the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, and a research assistant at various institutes and universities. In 2013, Dr. Yufik received the Summer Technology Institute Development Award. He received St. Edward s University Professional Development Award in In 2008, he received the University at Buffalo Excellence in Teaching Award. These are but a few of the numerous awards and recognitions received professionally and during his degree work. Dr. Yufik s publications include A Meta-Analytic Investigation of the Structure of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 2010, and Incremental validity of positive and negative valence in predicting personality disorder, published in Personality Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment in In addition, he has two manuscripts in progress: Psychopathy in a Student Veteran Sample and Development of a Couple-Based Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Returning Veterans. Dr. Yufik has presented on the topic of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since He is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the American Psychological Association.