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Judge Alfred H. Bennett's Biography

Biography
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Education

          University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
          J.D. May 1991

          University of Houston, Houston, Texas
          B.S. Political Science, May 1988

          A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
          40 Hour Basic Mediation Training, August 2007

Legal Experience

          United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas
                    April 2015 - present

          61st Civil District Court, State of Texas
                    Presiding Judge, January 2009 – April 2015

          Harris County Administrative Judge (Civil Division), January 2010 – December 2011
                    Administrative oversight of twenty-four civil district courts

          Law Offices of Alfred H. Bennett, Houston, Texas
                    Solo Practitioner, March 1998 – December 2008

          Thurgood Marshall School of Law – Texas Southern University
                    Adjunct Professor of Law - Trial Advocacy, Spring 2003 – Spring 2013

          Solar & Fernandes, L.L.P., Houston, Texas
                    Associate, October 1994 – February 1998

          Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Houston, Texas
                    Associate, September 1991 – September 1994

Bar Associations & Affiliations

          National Bar Association
                    Constitution & Bylaws Committee, Member, July 2000 - 2004
                    Gertrude E. Rush Mid-Year Planning Committee, Vice-Chair, 1997
                    Member, 1988 - present

          State Bar of Texas
                    Texas Access to Justice Commission, Commissioner, June 2010 - May 2015
                              Chair, Strategic Planning Committee, October 2011 - May 2015
                    College of the State Bar, Member, December 2009 - April 2015
                    Committee on Lawyer Referral & Information Services
                              Chair, July 2005 - July 2006
                              Vice-Chair, May 2002 - July 2004
                              Member, July 1998 - July 2006
                    Grievance Committee, District 4A (Houston), Member, June 2002 - June 2004
                    Texas Minority Conference Program Houston Host Committee, Member, Fall 1999 & Fall 2003
                    President-Elect's Advisory Committee on Strategic Planning, Member, 1995 - 1996

          Texas Young Lawyers' Association
                    Dropout Prevention & Literacy Committee, Past Member
                    Voters’ Rights & Registration Committee, Past Member
                    Member, 1991 - 2001

          Houston Lawyers Association
                    Immediate Past President, 1998 – 1999
                    President, 1997 – 1998
                    Chair, Board of Directors, 1997 – 1998
                    President-Elect, 1996 – 1997
                    Nominations Committee, Member 2000 – 2001, Chair 2001 – 2002
                    HLA Annual Scholarship Golf Classic Committee, Vice-Chair 1999 – 2000
                    Member, 1991 – present

          Houston Bar Association
                    Administration of Justice Committee, Member Fall 2012 – Fall 2013
                    Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards Committee, Member 2009 – 2011
                    Mock Voir Dire Program, Guest Judge, November 2011
                    Importance of Jury Service Program, Guest Speaker, February 2011
                    Veterans Initiative (US Vets at Midtown Program), Guest Speaker 2009
                    Law Day Program, Volunteer, Fall 2009
                    Lawyers in Public Schools, H.I.S.D., Guest Speaker, Fall 1999
                    Member, 1991 – present

          Garland R. Walker American Inn of Court, Judicial Member, September 2015 – present

          Houston Young Lawyers Association, Member, 1991 – 1998

          W. J. Durham Legal Society, Member, 1991-1994

Awards & Recognition

          Distinguished Alumni of the Year, The Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, 2019-2020

          Service to the Legal Community Award, The Spouses of Houston Barristers, 2017

          The Joyce M. Reynolds Lifetime Achievement Award, Houston Community College, 2016

          Honorary Order of the Coif, University of Texas School of Law, 2015

          Outstanding Service in the Community, Mexican American Bar Association Foundation, 2015

          Father of the Year, The Houston Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, 2015

          Weldon Berry Judicial Service Award, Houston Lawyers Association, May 2014

          WEBELOS Leader of the Year, Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, W.L. Davis District, 2013

          Community Leader Award, Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, 2011

          Rated AV (very high to preeminent legal ability) in Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, 2001

          President Achievement Award, Houston Lawyers Association, 1998

          Distinguished Service Award, The Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, 1990