TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER Regional Judges Seminar San Antonio January 13 15, 2014

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1 Javier Gonzalez Alternate Judge City of Harlingen 1018 Fairpark Boulevard Harlingen, TX (o) (f) TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER FACULTY ROSTER Regional Judges Seminar San Antonio January 13 15, 2014 Victor Lander Judge City of Dallas 2014 Main Street, Ste. 210 Dallas, TX (o) (f) Lester Rorick City of Pasadena PO Box 1575 Pasadena, TX (o) (f) Mark Goodner Program Attorney & Deputy Counsel TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) (f) Benita Harper Fort Worth 1000 Throckmorton St Fort Worth, TX (o) (f) Dana Huffman Balch Springs 3117 Hickory Tree Rd. Balch Springs, TX (o) (f) David Johnson Deputy Chief Prosecutor City of Arlington 101 S. Mesquite Street, Suite 300 Arlington, TX (o) (f) Matt King Tarrant County Magistrate Tarrant County 8733 Trailwood court Keller, TX (o) (f) Pam Liston Associate Judge City of Rowlett P.O. Box 1882 Rowlett, TX (o) (f) Kevin Madison City of Lakeway 740 Polo Club Drive Austin, TX (o) (f) Lindsey Mena Juvenile Case Coordinator City of San Marcos 630 E. Hopkins Street San Marcos, TX (o) (f) Bill Ragsdale City of Ingram 230 Highway 39 Ingram, TX (o) (f) Geary Reamey Professor of Law St. Mary's University School of Law 1 Camino Santa Maria St San Antonio, TX (o) reameyg@law.stmarytx.edu Ed Spillane City of College Station P.O. Box 9960 College Station, TX (o) (f) espillane@cstx.gov Sherry Statman City of Austin PO Box 2135 Austin, TX (o) (f) sherry.statman@ci.austin.tx.us Nydia Thomas Office of the General Counsel Texas Juvenile Justice Department P.O. Box Austin, Texas (o) nydia.thomas@tjjd.texas.gov Ryan Kellus Turner General Counsel & Director of Edcuation TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX (o) (f) rturner@tmcec.com

2 2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas fax FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES 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 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. BENITA HARPER Benita Harper serves as the for the City of Fort Worth Environmental Court. Prior to joining the City of Fort Worth, she worked in civil litigation with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld in the Dallas and San Antonio offices. Ms. Harper graduated from Rice University with a B.A., magna cum laude and phi beta kappa and the University of Houston Law School with a juris doctorate. While in law school, she worked as a Research Editor for the Houston Law Review. DANA HUFFMAN Dana Huffman serves as the 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

3 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. VICTOR LANDER Victor Lander was born in Georgia and grew up in New York City and Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Arts with honors from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and his juris doctorate from the University of Texas in Austin. Judge Lander worked for the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., before joining his father, the late Fred L. Lander, III, in the private practice of law in state and federal courts in Dallas. He was appointed an Associate (part-time) Municipal Judge for the City of Dallas in 1991 and has served as a full-time Municipal Judge for Dallas since In August of 2008, he was named Administrative Judge for the Dallas Municipal Court. He was named Outstanding Municipal Judge by the Texas Municipal Courts Association in 2003, and served on the Board of the TMCA from 2005 to PAM LISTON Pamela H. Liston is the Associate Judge of the City of Rowlett with duties primarily in the areas of juvenile cases and magistration. She is a partner in The Liston Law Firm, P.C. where her practice consists primarily of public law and criminal law representation. Judge Liston has participated on the faculty of TMCEC since 1999 and is noted for her work in municipal court prosecution and appellate practice. She has been a featured author twice published in the Municipal Court Recorder and is a past Course Director for TMCEC. In addition, Judge Liston is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel which provides legal services to indigent criminal defendants in the federal system. Judge Liston received her B.A. degree in English in 1989 and her J.D. degree in 1994 both from Texas Tech University. During law school, she was a member of the national moot court competition team and the Board of Barristers. She has been a member of the Texas State Bar since 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.

4 Judge Liston has two published municipal court cases: Ex Parte Rinkevich, No CR (Tex. App. Dallas 2007) and State v. Morales, CR (Tex. App. Dallas). Interestingly for this conference, both cases center on the issue of habeas corpus. She is married to her law partner, Paul J. Liston, and is the mother of four. 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 Chief of Police in Smithville. Judge Madison has over 26 years experience as a municipal judge and has served as Lakeway s 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. LINDSEY MENA Mrs. Mena attended Texas State University- San Marcos, where she studied Applied Sociology with an emphasis in Deviance and Social Control. She graduated in May 2010 and began working as a Juvenile Case Coordinator for the City of San Marcos in July Mrs. Mena is beginning the 4 th straight year with her outreach program throughout the schools and community and has enjoyed watching it expand each year. Mrs. Mena has been elected as the 2014 Vice President for the Juvenile Case Manager Association of Texas. She has been married for 3 years and has a 1 1/2 year old son. BILL RAGSDALE Bill Ragsdale is the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Ingram and Justice of the Peace of Precinct Four, Kerr County. He has been a judge for 22 years and has taught clerks for the Justice Court Training Center. He began as a municipal court clerk in GEARY REAMEY Geary Reamey is a Professor of Law at St. Mary s University School of Law, San Antonio. Following his undergraduate education at Trinity University, he earned his juris doctor and L.L.M. from Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas. Prior to joining the faculty of St. Mary s in 1982, Professor Reamey was in private practice in Irving, litigating both criminal and civil cases. Additionally he served as legal advisor for the Irving Police Department, an Adjunct Professor of Management at the University of Dallas, and as an Instructor at SMU School of Law. He is the author of a treatise on Texas criminal law, and co-author of a casebook on Texas criminal procedure. Additionally, he is the author of A Peace Officer s Guide to Texas Law, and the Legal Digest Editor for the Texas Police Journal. Professor Reamey is a frequent lecturer for continuing education programs for judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and peace officers. He is a recipient of the TMCEC Outstanding Teaching Award for

5 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. ED SPILLANE Edward Spillane is the Presiding Municipal Judge for College Station since May Prior to taking that position, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Brazos County for eight years and as an associate for the law firm Fulbright and Jaworski for two years. Judge Spillane received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He currently serves as President of the Texas Municipal Courts Association. Judge Spillane currently is the Region VII director on the TMCEC/TMCA board and represents Texas Municipal Courts on the Judicial Conduct Commission. SHERRY STATMAN Sherry Statman serves as the for the City of Austin Municipal court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Ms. Statman s career path included private practice in the areas of civil and administrative law as well as positions as a Senior Staff Attorney with the Texas Medical Board and an Assistant County Attorney with the Travis County Attorney s office. Ms. Statman serves on the State Bar s Lawyer Assistance Program Committee and is a member of the Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court. NYDIA THOMAS Nydia D. Thomas has an extensive background in juvenile law and juvenile justice system administration at the state and local levels. She joined the staff of the former Texas Juvenile Probation Commission in In the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Nydia directs the Legal Education and Technical Assistance Division. The section provides professional training to a range of juvenile justice stakeholders to ensure compliance with statutory laws and administrative rules. The section also publishes legislative commentary and statutory implementation guides and other juvenile-law related materials. Nydia has published topical articles on juvenile law and is a contributing editor/author of the state s foremost juvenile justice treatise, Texas Juvenile Law, 8th Edition, by the late University of Texas Professor Robert O. Dawson. She is also a recurring faculty member for the Correctional Management Institute of Texas and the Texas Association of Counties. Nydia is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and gained valuable experience on Capitol Hill while working for a Member of Congress and a Washington-based congressional research foundation. Nydia was also in private practice in suburban Houston, a college instructor, and coordinator for a statewide delinquency prevention program. Nydia is a former councilmember and Mayor-Pro Tem of a small city in Southeast Texas and has received both gubernatorial and attorney general appointments. Nydia is a Past Chair of the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. She has served on the Texas Violent Gang Task Force Advisory Board, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles State Council, and the Statewide Disproportionality Task Force as well as the Presidential Advisory Board for the Wiley College Debate Program.

6 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.