Association of Women Attorneys

THE ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ATTORNEYS
Announces the AWA Endorsements of Judicial Candidates
for the March 2010 Primary

SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS

Supreme Court of Texas, Place 3
Republican Primary – Debra Lehrmann
Democrat Primary – Uncontested

Supreme Court of Texas, Place 9
Republican Primary – Eva Guzman
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

HOUSTON COURTS OF APPEALS

First Court of Appeals, Place 4
Republican Primary – Evelyn Keyes
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

First Court of Appeals, Place 8
Republican Primary – Michael Massengale
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Place 2
Republican Primary – Leslie Brock Yates
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

HARRIS COUNTY CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS

113th District Court
Democratic Primary – Christina Bryan
Republican Primary – Uncontested

157th District Court
Democratic Primary – Chuck Silverman
Republican Primary – Uncontested

189th District Court
Democratic Primary – Larry Hinojosa
Republican Primary – Uncontested

190th District Court
Democratic Primary – Olan Boudreaux
Republican Primary – Uncontested

234th District Court
Democratic Primary – Tanner Garth
Republican Primary – Uncontested

270th District Court
Democratic Primary – Lee Arellano
Republican Primary – Uncontested

281th District Court
Democratic Primary – Donna Roth
Republican Primary – Uncontested

295th District Court
Democratic Primary – Paul Simon
Republican Primary – Uncontested

HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS

180th District Court
Democratic Primary – Lori Gooch
Republican Primary – Marc Brown

248th District Court
Democratic Primary – Trent Gaither
Republican Primary – Uncontested

HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY LAW DISTRICT COURTS

245th District Court
Democratic Primary – Janiece Horn
Republican Primary – Uncontested

247th District Court
Democratic Primary – Clinton “Chip” Wells
Republican Primary – Uncontested

280th District Court
Republican Primary – Angelina Gooden
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

308th District Court
Democratic Primary – No Endorsement
Republican Primary – Alice J. O'Neill

309th District Court
Republican Primary – Meca Walker
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

310th District Court
Democratic Primary – Judy Dougherty
Republican Primary – Lisa Millard

311th District Court
Democratic Primary – Dual Endorsement for Brad Morris & Deborah Wright
Republican Primary – Joel A. Grandstaff

HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE DISTRICT COURTS

313th District Court
Democratic Primary – Anthony J. Referente
Republican Primary – Fred Wilson

314th District Court
Democratic Primary – David Longoria
Republican Primary – Uncontested

315th District Court
Democratic Primary – No Endorsement
Republican Primary – Uncontested

HARRIS COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT LAW

County Civil Court No. 1
Democratic Primary – Steven Reilley
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Civil Court No. 2
Democratic Primary – No Endorsement
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Civil Court No. 3
Democratic Primary – Damon Crenshaw
Republican Primary – Uncontested

HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW

County Criminal Court No. 1
Democratic Primary – No Endorsement
Republican Primary – Paula Goodhart

County Criminal Court No. 2
Democratic Primary – Mary Connealy Acosta
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Criminal Court No. 3
Democratic Primary – Judith Snively
Republican Primary – Cary Hart

County Criminal Court No. 4
Republican Primary – John Clinton
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

County Criminal Court No. 9
Democratic Primary – Juanita Jackson Barner
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Criminal Court No. 10
Democratic Primary – Grant Hardeway
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Criminal Court No. 12
Democratic Primary – Cheryl Diggs
Republican Primary – Uncontested

County Criminal Court No. 13
Democratic Primary – Dennis Slate
Republican Primary – Don Smyth

HARRIS COUNTY PROBATE COURTS

Probate Court No. 1
Republican Primary – No Endorsement
Democratic Primary – Uncontested

Probate Court No. 2
Democratic Primary – Joellen Snow
Republican Primary – Uncontested

Probate Court No. 3
Democratic Primary – Mary Galligan
Republican Primary – Uncontested

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS

Precinct 3, Place 2
Democratic Primary – Dane Listi

Precinct 5, Place 2
Republican Primary – Jeff Williams

**Please note that the AWA does not make
endorsements in uncontested races.

Welcome!
Association of Women Attorneys was organized in Houston, Texas, in 1976
to improve the opportunities for, and to promote recognition of the capabilities
of women attorneys.

CONTACT AWA

Assoc. of Women Attorneys
2450 Louisiana St.
Suite 400-301
Houston, TX 77006-2318

EMAIL

UPCOMING EVENT

Law Student Reception
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Click here for details...

MEETINGS

AWA meetings are generally held on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m.

AWA NEWSLETTER

Download our latest newsletter to learn about AWA recent events!

DOWNLOAD

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

.	Strengthen the image of women attorneys in the community.
.	Work toward the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women attorneys.
.	Promote a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experiences of women attorneys.
.	Increase, expand and improve job opportunities for women attorneys.
.	Promote continuing legal education and professional growth.
.	Promote active participation in Bar organizations.
.	Encourage and assist the professional development of women attorneys.
.	Encourage women to enter the legal profession and assist them during their legal education.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

In 1976 a small group of women attorneys gathered in an empty courtroom to discuss ways to combine their strengths to improve opportunities for women attorneys and promote recognition of their capabilities.

With few exceptions, women attorneys were unique at that time, and men held the judicial positions as well as the majority of the prominent positions within Houston's leading law firms.

From its humble beginnings, AWA has emerged as a leading organization that has opened its doors to male and female judges, licensed attorneys from law firms, solo practices, corporations and government sectors, and laws students. "AWA is all about relationships, " said Cameron Vann, a former president, citing the group's annual reception for the judiciary as an example.

The judicial reception grew out of a dinner meeting in the 1980's where judges who thought they treated women attorneys "just fine" and members who had a completely different perception of the situation cleared the air. The reception has since become an annual event where AWA members and local judges are able to mingle in a social atmosphere.

The organization is determined to keep those lines of communication open by hosting events which offer interaction between attorneys and the judiciary. Not to be overlooked, however, is the AWA's sponsorship of a judicial screening committee to review qualifications of judicial candidates and to provide recommendations to its members and the community. Over the years, candidates have come to regard the AWA screening as one of the strongest in the state.

"At times members have wondered whether there was still a need for a woman's organization," Vann stated, "and that question has always been answered 'Yes!' Not only do AWA's memberships have a sense that we've made things better, but we provide a networking opportunity for solo practitioners as well as attorneys from law firms, corporations, and government entities."

Members have learned the value of being part of a group where they can compare "war stories" and come to find answers to questions. It provides an opportunity for litigators and corporate attorneys to develop friendships with lawyers who practice family, probate, criminal, and other types of law. The organization also affords a ready source of qualified attorneys to whom members can refer clients, friends, and family when there is a need for practitioners in other specialties.

AWA's monthly meetings include state bar CLE accredited presentations on various subjects of interest. These might include stress management for attorneys, grandparents' rights, same-sex marriages, lawyer advertising, law practice management, financial planning, immigration law, sex and clients, and the role of in-house counsel. Additionally, members serve as mentors for law students and recent graduates striving to find their way in the practice of law.

Having established itself as a viable, thriving organization, the AWA found yet another way to serve the legal community. In the 1990's, the AWA Foundation was initiated under the leadership of several remarkable AWA members. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to women law students at each of the area's three law schools.

It is funded through monies raised by ticket sales and donations, and an annual silent auction and gala. Women law students from the University of Houston Law Center, South Texas College of Law and Thurgood Marshall School of Law apply for the coveted scholarships each year. Each school's winner receives her check at a ceremony during the judicial reception.

"We've come from a handful of women in an empty courtroom to over 7,500 female attorneys in Harris County alone," Vann said. "We may not have all of them as members, but it's nice to know that we're able to help a few of those up and coming women that will take on the challenge of law."