TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER

Transcription

1 TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER Regional Judges Seminar El Paso June 9 11, 2014 Candace Chappell Senior Assistant City Attorney City of Irving 305 North O'Connor Road Irving, TX (o) (f) cchappel@cityofirving.org Javier Gonzalez Alternate Judge City of Harlingen 1018 Fairpark Boulevard Harlingen, TX (o) (f) javier.gonzalez@roystonlaw.com Mark Goodner Program Attorney & Deputy Counsel TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) (f) goodner@tmcec.com Peter Graham Associate Judge City of Irving PO Box Irving, TX (o) (f) grahamusmc1980@yahoo.com Dana Huffman Presiding Judge Balch Springs 3117 Hickory Tree Rd. Balch Springs, TX (o) (f) huffmanlaw@gmail.com David Johnson Deputy Chief Prosecutor City of Arlington 101 S. Mesquite Street, Suite 300 Arlington, TX (o) (f) david.s.johnson@arlingtontx.gov Matt King Tarrant County Magistrate Tarrant County 8733 Trailwood court Keller, TX (o) (f) making@tarrantcounty.com Catherine Klier Administration Manager, JCM Program City of Houston 1400 Lubbock Street, Room 214 Houston, TX (o) (f) catherine.klier@houstontx.gov Pam Liston Associate Judge City of Rowlett P.O. Box 1882 Rowlett, TX (o) (f) pamela.liston@listonlaw.net Jan Blacklock Matthews Judge City of Wilson P.O. Box 22 Wilson, TX lubbock7@gmail.com Kevin Madison Presiding Judge City of Lakeway 104 Cross Creek Lakeway,TX (o) (f) judgekevinmadison@gmail.com Richard Olivo Judge El Paso 810 E Overland Ave El Paso, TX (o) (f) rick@olivolaw.com Lester Rorick Presiding Judge City of Pasadena PO Box 1575 Pasadena, TX (o) (f) judgerorick@ci.pasadena.tx.us Warren Spencer City Prosecutor Forest Hill 3219 East California Parkway Forest Hill, TX (o) wspencer@foresthilltx.org Rebecca Stark Court Director City of Austin PO Box 2135 Austin, TX (o) (f) rebecca.stark@austintexas.gov Ryan Kellus Turner General Counsel & Director of Edcuation TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) (f) rturner@tmcec.com

2 TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER Regional Attorney Judges Seminar South Padre Island May 4 6, 2014

3 2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas fax FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES CANDACE CHAPPELL Candace Chappell grew up in Lubbock, Texas and is a third generation attorney. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University where she earned her Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Juris Doctorate. She worked in the Dallas Criminal District Attorney s Office, the El Paso Court of Appeals, and the El Paso County District Attorney s Office, and as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of El Paso. In 1995, Ms. Chappell went to work for the City of Irving, the year the city became a court of record. She is presently employed in Irving as a Senior Assistant City Attorney where she performs both prosecutorial and general municipal law duties. JAVIER GONZALEZ Javier Gonzalez was born in Brownsville, Texas and has been practicing for almost 20 years in Texas. Mr. Gonzalez is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Gonzalez attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, (B.B.A., 1990) and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University (J.D., cum laude, 1993). Mr. Gonzalez has been a judge an Associate Judge for the Harlingen, Texas since August of He is also a partner with the law firm of Royston Rayzor in their South Texas office and has been with the firm for over 17 years. He recently finished up a 7 day jury trial on a major bus accident for the defense with a favorable verdict in Brooks County, Texas. His trial experience began in the Cameron County District Attorney's Office where he was a First Chair Felony Prosecutor, successfully prosecuting to verdict criminal cases ranging from simple assault to capital murder from 1993 to Mr. Gonzalez's practice now focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on defense in wrongful death and personal injury. MARK GOODNER Mark Goodner serves as the Presiding Judge 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. PETER GRAHAM Judge Peter Graham has been an associate judge in Irving since December After graduating from University of Dallas in Irving with a BA in Politics, he joined the Marine Corps where he served as a tank commander before being stationed at the Marine Recruiting Station in Dallas. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law and is in private practice in Arlington. He is a member of the Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Tankers Association, and is active in the Marine Corps Toys-for- Tots program. Recreation interests include civil war re-enactments and anything else that does not involve being on a telephone.

4 DANA HUFFMAN Dana Huffman serves as the Presiding Judge for the Cities of Balch Springs, Fairview, Princeton and Lucas. She is the Associate Judge for the Cities of Carrollton, DeSoto, Ferris and Fate and the prosecutor for the Cities of Red Oak, Glenn Heights and Waxahachie. Ms. Huffman graduated from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law with a juris doctorate and Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is active in animal rescue serving on the Board of Directors for two rescue organizations and the City of Richardson Animal Shelter Advisory Commission. DAVID JOHNSON David Johnson is the Deputy Chief Prosecutor for the City of Arlington. He also serves as the lead prosecutor for appeals, code compliance, and civil enforcement matters. Prior to joining the Arlington City Attorney s Office, he worked for Dallas attorney S. George Alfonso. Mr. Johnson obtained his juris doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Mr. Johnson received his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Mr. Johnson has been a presenter for the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, the Texas Court Clerks Association, the Texas City Attorneys Association, as well as a past presenter for TMCEC. MATT KING Judge King graduated with honors in 1977 from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree, and received his Doctor s of Jurisprudence in 1983 from Texas Tech University School of Law. He started his career in the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's office and worked in both the civil and criminal divisions. In 1987 he entered private practice and specialized in criminal defense. Judge King is admitted to practice in Federal Court for the Northern District of Texas, and in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge King was first appointed as a relief Judge for the City of Keller in 1993, and beginning in 1995 served as the Presiding Municipal Judge. In 2007 he resigned this position after being been appointed a Tarrant County Criminal Magistrate. Currently he handles all aspects of the criminal justice system. His responsibilities include presiding over jury selection, probation revocation hearings, bond forfeitures, bond reductions hearings, motions to suppress, all pre-trial motion hearings, ruling on the admissibility of evidence, accepting plea bargains, and the magistration of inmates. CATHERINE KLIER Catherine Klier is an Administration Manager with the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department, with over 12 years experience in criminal justice. As an Administration Manager, Ms. Klier is responsible for managing all operations of the Juvenile Case Manager Program, which places Juvenile Case Managers in local middle and high schools as well as within the Municipal Court to reduce juvenile referrals into the criminal justice system. The City of Houston Juvenile Case Manager Program is the largest program of its kind in the state as well as the most highly developed. In addition to her current position, she currently serves as faculty for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center by providing education on topics related to juveniles in the criminal justice system and serves as President of the southeast region chapter of the Juvenile Case Manager Association. Ms. Klier has been with the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department since January 2009, where she was one of four original Juvenile Case Managers; she was promoted to Senior Juvenile

5 Case Manager in April In August 2011, Ms. Klier was honored with a Bravo Award, which is the highest recognition program for City of Houston employees. Prior to 2009, Ms. Klier served as a conservatorship caseworker with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). She also served as a Pretrial Officer and Defendant Monitoring Officer with Harris County Pretrial Services. Ms. Klier began her career in criminal justice as a Pretrial Officer with Travis County Pretrial Services. Ms. Klier received her bachelor s degree in Art and Art History from the University of Texas at Austin in PAM LISTON Pamela H. Liston is the Associate Judge of the City of Rowlett, Texas. She is a partner in The Liston Law Firm, P.C., and her practice consists primarily in the areas of public and criminal law. Judge Liston is noted for her work in municipal court prosecution and appellate practice and has extensive experience and training in that area. She has been a featured author twice published in the Municipal Court Recorder, and has served as faculty of the Texas Municipal Court Education Center Prosecutor s School. She is also a past Course Director for TMCEC. Judge Liston is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel which provides legal services to indigent criminal defendants in the federal system. She has argued in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and sought review from the United States Supreme Court in her federal practice. Judge Liston received her B.A. degree in English in 1989 and her J.D. degree in 1994 both from Texas Tech University. At Tech Law, she was a member of the National Marshall Moot Court Team and received the Outstanding Barrister Service Award. She was admitted to the bar of Texas in 1994 and is licensed to practice before all state courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Judge Liston has two published municipal court cases of Ex Parte Rinkevich, No CR (Tex. App. Dallas 2007) and State v. Morales, CR (Tex. App. Dallas). Importantly for this conference, both cases involve habeas corpus review. She is the wife of her law partner, Paul J. Liston, and is the mother of four wonderful children. JAN BLACKLOCK MATTHEWS Jan Blacklock Matthews is municipal judge for the city of Wilson (appointed 2011). She an attorney and trained mediator in civil, criminal and USDA matters. She served as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Lubbock (elected 1994 and 1998, appointed ). Judge Matthews has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sul Ross State University and her Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law. Prior to becoming judge, she held the position of Assistant District Attorney and Misdemeanor Chief for the Lubbock County District Attorney s Office. Matthews is the Region I director for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center and the Texas Municipal Courts Association. KEVIN MADISON Judge Madison graduated from UT-Austin with a B.A. with Honors in Psychology. After college, Judge Madison attended the UT System Police Academy and graduated as the class Valedictorian. Judge Madison earned his law degree from the University of Houston, served as a deputy sheriff after law school, and then was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County. Later he served as the

6 Chief of Police in Smithville. Judge Madison has over 26 years experience as a municipal judge and has served as Lakeway s Presiding Judge since Judge Madison received the 2009 Outstanding Municipal Court Judge award from the Texas Municipal Courts Association and his court in Lakeway has been recognized for his traffic safety initiative programs by TMCEC and TxDOT in 2008, 2009, 2012, and Judge Madison proudly serves his community as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. RICHARD OLIVO Rick Olivo was elected as Judge of Municipal Court #4 on May 9, 2009, after having been appointed to the same position on September 9, 2008, by the El Paso City Council to fill an unexpired term. He previously served the City of El Paso as an Associate Municipal Judge from August 2001 until his appointment. Judge Olivo was born in El Paso, Texas, and has lived in the Philippines, Spain, Egypt, Belgium, and numerous cities in the United States. He graduated from Cairo American College in Cairo, Egypt in 1984, earned his BA in political science from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1988, and JD from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1997, where he served as the Student Bar Association president. Upon graduation from law school, Judge Olivo worked as an associate on the Business and Technology Team at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP in San Diego, California. He has operated a solo practice in El Paso, Texas, from 1999 until the present. Judge Olivo is married to Sharon and they have two children: Christian, a junior studying Mathematics and Economics at Arizona State University, and Tiana, a freshman studying Architecture at the University of Arizona. 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. WARREN SPENCER Warren Spencer is currently the City Attorney for two Metroplex cities. He previously served as: the Assistant Police Legal Advisor for the Arlington Police Department; the Senior Legal Advisor for the Plano Police Department; and, as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Plano. Prior to, and while attending, law school at the University of Texas he served as a police officer. His duties as a peace officer have included patrol, criminal investigation, administration, training and supervision. The highest rank held by Mr. Spencer was Captain. After graduation from the University of Texas School of Law Mr. Spencer served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Tarrant County District Attorney s Office, prosecuting both felony and misdemeanor offenses. He has been involved with law enforcement and municipal matters for 27 years. Mr. Spencer has been actively involved with law enforcement training for 24 years. He has instructed at several area police academies, as well as at many area police departments. He has co-authored a textbook on arrest, search and seizure law for Texas peace officers, which is in its 18th year of publication. He also writes a monthly newsletter for Texas peace officers, which is entering its 17th year of publication.

7 He regularly consults with law enforcement agencies as to training needs, including liability and search and seizure issues. Mr. Spencer currently holds a Master Peace Officer Certification and an Instructor s Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He obtained his bachelor s degree from University of Texas at Arlington and his master s degree from Texas Christian University. He has worked with TCOLE to update legal curriculums for both basic and intermediate level academy classes. During his time with the City of Plano Mr. Spencer assisted in the development of a comprehensive Conflict Management System for the City to resolve complaints between employees. He is a graduate of the Management Preparation Program for Plano. He assisted in the training of employees in the state certified mediator s course and he is an academically certified mediator in Texas. Mr. Spencer served on the graduate faculty for the School of Dispute Resolution at Southern Methodist University, as well as on the faculty for Northlake College in the dispute resolution program. Mr. Spencer currently serves on the graduate faculty of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at Arlington. Mr. Spencer also instructs for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. REBECCA STARK Ms. Stark has worked in city government since 1978 and has been teaching various classes for TMCEC for several years. She was the city manager of a medium sized city and then of a small city in the Metroplex area. She left city management to become the court clerk for a large city, Fort Worth, and is now the court clerk for the Austin Municipal Court. Ms. Stark has experienced court operations in various sized cities and is here to share her experiences while teaching this seminar today. 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 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.