Justice Rebecca Simmons
Justice Rebecca Simmons is a fifth generation Texan and a third generation attorney. She has two brothers who are attorneys and one brother who is a District Judge. A respect for the law was ingrained at an early age.
After twenty years in private practice, Rebecca Simmons was appointed as District Judge of the 408th Judicial District Court in Bexar County and was subsequently elected. Based on Judge Simmons proven track record on the district bench, she was selected to serve on the Fourth Court in May 2005 and then elected in 2006. In addition to her court duties, Justice Simmons has served as an adjunct professor at St. Mary's School of Law for over 15 years. In 2005, Justice Simmons was specially commissioned as a Supreme Court Justice to sit on a pending case before the Texas Supreme Court. Justice Simmons has a reputation of getting her work done timely and fairly, authoring over 100 opinions annually. In addition, Justice Simmons current court does not have any backlog - all cases are carefully reviewed and disposed of within the court year.
Before serving on the district bench, Justice Simmons worked initially as an Associate and Shareholder at Cox, Smith Mathews law firm with a focus on commercial litigation. Then, she went on to become Senior Counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP where she specialized in complex litigation including intellectual property, patent and antitrust cases and appeals.
Justice Simmons is a graduate of Baylor University School of Law where she served as a notes and comments editor for the Baylor Law Review. Following law school Justice Simmons served as a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court. A recipient of an International Rotary Fellowship, Justice Simmons continued her legal studies at Durham University in England, focusing on the emerging European Economic Community, prior to settling in San Antonio.
Justice Simmons is an active member of the legal community. She is a former Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation which provides over $500,000 a year in grants for legal services and education. A recipient of the State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation, she is a member of the Pattern Jury Charge Committee and Rules Committee of the Texas Bar. She is a former President of the William S. Sessions American Inns of Court, and the Bexar County Women's Bar Association. She is currently Treasurer of the San Antonio Bar Association. She is an active lecturer and speaker on a variety of legal topics.
Justice Simmons is married to Dr. Richard Clemons and they have three children: Rachael, Sarah and Patrick.
Justice Rebecca Simmons is running for Justice, Place 3 on the Supreme Court of Texas in the Republican primary to be held March 2010. This seat is currently held by Justice Harriet O'Neill, who announced she would not seek re-election in 2010.
Rick Strange
My name is Rick Strange, and I am currently serving my 5th year on the 11th Court of Appeals, following my appointment in 2005 by Governor Rick Perry. In my time on the bench, I have authored over 200 opinions and am a strong proponent of judicial law.
Born in Lubbock and having grown up in Floydada, Texas, when it was time to go to college, I chose to stay in the state I knew best. I attended Hardin Simmons University and graduated in 1982 Cum Laude with a BBA in Accounting. Having received an ROTC scholarship and successfully completed US Army Jump School and Ranger School, my college career was a training ground for success.
Following college, I attended law school at the University of Texas, where I met my wonderful wife Carole. We were married in 1983 and today have two beautiful daughters, Katie and Susan who are both students at Hardin Simmons University. Carole is a math teacher and department chair at Trinity High School in Midland. In 1985, I graduated from UT with honors, and went to work for Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe, and Dawson in their litigation section.
At the time of my appointment, I was a partner in Cotton, Bledsoe, and was head of the firm's litigation section. In my more than two decades with the firm, I tried well over 100 lawsuits in state courts in Texas and New Mexico, and in Federal Courts in Texas and Washington, D.C. My law practice was devoted to common sense solutions, and I have dedicated my career to helping serve the needs of those around me. I have written numerous legal articles, been a frequent speaker across the state of Texas, and early in my career was named Midland County Young Lawyer of the Year.
I am committed to my faith and family, and pride myself on being a devoted husband and dad. My family and I attend First Baptist Church Midland, where I teach Sunday school and serve on the insurance and security committee. I am committed to helping elect leaders that share my values, and have proudly served on the Midland County Republican Committee, was the head of a President Bush Strike Force team that helped the President's re-election in 2004, and have been an Associate Member of the Midland County Republican Women's Club for many years.
I want to serve the people of the great State of Texas with humility, and with respect for the institution I represent. I have developed a reputation of working with people across the state, regardless of party and affiliation, and plan to use my vast experience make the law consistent and fair.
Justice Jim Moseley
An Experienced Justice. Thirteen years' service on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. Authored over 1,000 published opinions and hundreds of unpublished opinions in all areas of civil and criminal law. Broad support from all segments of the bar.
A Seasoned Attorney. Fourteen years' private practice in Dallas and Odessa. Served as Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission in the Reagan Administration. Former Chair of the State Bar Antitrust & Business Litigation Section.
A Proven Conservative. Active in Republican Party since 1980. Former Precinct Chair, County Vice-Chair, County Chair, and S.R.E.C member. Dallas County Chair for Victory '94 GOP campaign. Founding member of the Dallas Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy. Appointed to court of appeals in 1996 by then-Governor Bush.
An Ordinary Texan. Born and raised in Eastland County (near Abilene). Attended public schools, Tarleton State, and Cisco Jr. College. Earned undergraduate and law degrees from Baylor. Lives in Coppell with his wife of 26 years, the former Marian Bentley of Burkburnett. Two children-Becky, a 2nd year-law student at University of Chicago, and Jimmy, a junior at Texas A&M. Active member of Irving Bible Church. Enjoys baseball, reading, writing, politics, and being a husband, father, and judge.
Justice Jeff Brown
Justice Jeff Brown was appointed to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals by Governor Rick Perry inDecember 2007, and was elected to the same seat in 2008. After just a year on the court of appeals, he was voted as the most outstanding appellate judge in the Houston Bar Association's judicial-evaluation poll. Before taking the appellate bench, Justice Brown served for six years as judge of the 55th District Court in Harris County, where he was consistently among the highest ranked judges in the bar poll.
Justice Brown is board-certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Before taking the bench, he practiced at Baker Botts, trying jury cases throughout Southeast Texas. Between law school and working at Baker Botts, he was a law clerk to Greg Abbott on the Texas Supreme Court.
The judge earned his bachelor's degree in English at the University of Texas and his law degreewith high honors at the University of Houston, where he was an editor of the Houston Law Review.
In 2006, the Texas Young Lawyers Association named Justice Brown Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas. The judge has been active in state and local bar activities, and has served on the boards of directors of the Texas Lyceum, the Houston Law Review, the University of Houston Law Alumni Association, the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, the Texas Center for the Judiciary, and the Christian Community Service Center.
An Eagle Scout, Justice Brown served on the Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts' Urban Scouting Committee, a program dedicated to bringing Scouting's values to inner-city young men. He is a leader of Cub Scout Pack 455, has coached baseball, soccer, and football, and teaches Sunday school. He also volunteered for Operation Compassion, serving food to Katrina evacuees in 2005. The Texas Jaycees named him one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans of 2008.
Justice Brown has been an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center and is on the faculty of the National Judicial College. He also serves on the editorial board of the The Advocate, the quarterly journal of the State Bar's Litigation Section. In 2008, he was elected to the American Law Institute. The son of a longtime police officer, Justice Brown was named Civil District Court Judge of the Year by the Houston Police Officers Union in 2002 and by P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc., ("Peace Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence") in 2003.
Justice Brown and his wife, Susannah, a schoolteacher, live in Houston with their three children, Kathleen, Rob and Gus. They are active members of Bellaire United Methodist Church.
Judge Debra Lehrmann
District Judge Debra Lehrmann has announced that she is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Texas Supreme Court, to succeed Justice Harriet O'Neill who has announced her retirement. Judge Lehrmann is the only Tarrant County candidate to announce her intention to run for this office. She currently serves as District Judge of the 360th Judicial District in Fort Worth, Texas, and has served as a judge in Tarrant County for more than 22 years.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Judge Lehrmann graduated with high honors from the University of Texas in 1979 and the University of Texas School of Law in 1982. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she practiced family law with the Fort Worth law firm of Law, Snakard & Gambill. In 1990, she was recognized as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Tarrant County. An acknowledged legal scholar and published author, she received the Texas Bar Foundation's award for the best bar journal article of the year in 2003.
Judge Lehrmann has been a committed member of the legal profession for many years. She is a past president of the Texas Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), is a master member of the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, served on the Advisory Board of Tarrant County Dispute Resolution Services, is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation, and is a charter member of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.
Judge Lehrmann actively participates in the national legal community, as well. In 2003, she was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to represent Texas as a Uniform Law Commissioner. Judge Lehrmann has participated in revisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, Uniform Probate Code, and Uniform Trust Code. Additionally, she served as the Chair of the ULC drafting committee on the Uniform Relocation of Children Act and on the committee which created a uniform law on the court appointed representation of children.
In 2005, Judge Lehrmann received the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Scott Moore Award as recognition for her service in the judiciary as a child advocate. Most recently, in December of 2009, she will receive the prestigious Judge Eva Barnes Award for her dedication and outstanding service to the legal profession.
Judge Lehrmann, a Harris County native, has lived in Northeast Tarrant County for over 26 years. Judge Lehrmann and her husband, Greg, have two young adult sons, Gregory and Jonathan. They are active members of First United Methodist Church of Colleyville.
Rick Green
Rick Green is a husband, father, little league coach, attorney, speaker, and author. The first three on that list are what drive him to do the last three.
He was raised in Wylie, Texas and graduated there in 1989 as an Honor Graduate after participating and being awarded for all-state competition in both mock trial and baseball.
Rick earned his four-year B.B.A. degree in finance from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas in just two years by taking twice the average course load each semester. Rick then enrolled as the youngest student (20 yrs. of age) in the University of Texas Law School.
After graduation, Rick focused his practice on contract law with an emphasis on helping entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
As a civic contribution, Rick produced a video documentary entitled The Legacy of President Ronald Reagan: The Truth About the Eighties.
Rick was elected to the Texas Legislature at the age of 27, serving from 1999 to 2003 on the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Rick is dedicated to public service and impacting the political process because he believes our system of freedom depends upon "we the people" staying involved in the process.
In the 76th Legislative Session, Rick rallied 86 House Republican and Democratic Co-authors to pass his legislation to prevent the filing of frivolous lawsuits by cities against gun-and ammunition-manufacturers, traders and sellers.
Rick's most important accomplishment during the 77th Legislative Session was bringing together 102 House Republican and Democratic Co-authors to establish 'Celebrate Freedom Week', which requires an emphasis on the teaching of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for one week every year. Other states have recently modeled Rick's legislation.
Rick was voted Republican Freshman of the Year by his peers in 1999. He also has received numerous other awards which include: the Free Market Foundation's, "Leader of Excellence Award"; Eagles Forum's "Freedom and Family Award"; Independent Cattlemen's Association's "Cattlemen's Council Award". His second term as State Representative brought recognition from the national spotlight as he received the United States of America Non-Commissioned Officers Association's "State Legislature Vanguard Award".
He is an outspoken advocate of returning to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and continues to inspire audiences through his passionate and moving presentations.
Rick and his wife, Kara, homeschool their four children, Trey, Reagan, Kamryn, and Rhett, and reside in Dripping Springs, Texas.
