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 and 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 – August 2019

Houston Young Lawyers Association, Member, 1991 – 1998 

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

Pro Bono Activities & Community Service

University of Texas Law School Foundation
          Board of Trustees, Trustee, May 2017 – present

Just the Beginning Foundation 
          Houston Steering Committee, March 2023 - present
          Judicial Advisory Committee, January 2021 - present
          Co-Chair of Houston’s Scholarship Golf Tournament Committee, March 2001 – September 2002

Boy Scouts of America
          Sam Houston Area Council
                    Board of Directors, September 2016 – December 2019
Troop 242 & Pack 242, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
          Assistant Scoutmaster, August 2012 – August 2020
          Cub Scout Den Leader, August 2012 – February 2014; August 2009 – May 2010
          Cub Scout Assistant Den Leader, August 2010 – May 2012
Order of the Arrow, Colonneh Lodge, September 2016 – August 2019

University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association
          Executive Committee, Member, June 2001 – 2010
          Nominating Committee, Member, May 2002 - 2008
          Young Houston Steering Committee, Co-Chair, 1999 – 2000

University of Houston Alumni Association, Member, 1988 – present

American Leadership Forum (Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter)
          Senior Fellow, February 2015 – present

OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority & Reinvestment Zone Number Seven, Director, August 2006 – May 2015
     
East Downtown Management District, Director, June 1999 – August 2006
          Vice-Chair, December 2005 – August 2006
          Treasurer, February 2003 – November 2005
          Service & Assessment Plan Design Subcommittee, Chair, December 2005 – August 2006

Parkwood Drive Civic Club
          President, November 2006 – November 2008
First Vice-President, November 2004 – November 2006
          Director, November 2004 – 2008    

Guest Lecturer, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
          Fall 1993 & Spring 1994

Awards & Recognition

Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Houston Alumni Association, 2024

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