I am excited to formally announce that I am running as a Republican to be the next Judge of the 317th District Court in Jefferson County, Texas in the upcoming 2022 election. Judge Larry Thorne has previously indicated that he will be retiring when his current term ends December 31, 2022. Since 2004, I have practiced law in Jefferson County and have been honored to represent hundreds of clients fr
om Port Arthur to Beaumont, Nederland to China, and all other areas of Jefferson County. I was born and raised in Nederland, graduated from Lamar University, and I taught and coached in our local public schools before making the decision to attend law school. After graduating from South Texas College of Law in 2003, I decided to establish my practice in Jefferson County in order to serve the people of this county that have given so much to me. Over the course of my practice, I have handled hundreds of divorce, custody and other family law cases in Jefferson County courts and have been called on by my colleagues to mediate and assist in settling many of their cases during my career. I have been honored to be voted by the local bar and its attorneys to serve as a director, treasurer and vice president of the Jefferson County Bar Association, and I previously served as the Chairman of the Family Law Section of the Jefferson County Bar Association. Over the course of my career, I have been active in the Jefferson County pro bono program, and have most enjoyed being able to participate in National Adoption Day for several years and help worthy clients grow their families. I am a past board member of CASA of Southeast Texas, the United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County, and have coached and volunteered in several local youth organizations with my children. I am humbled to have the support of the vast majority of the family law attorneys in Jefferson County, as well as numerous other members of the local bar that I have worked with over the years. In 2021 I became a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, an honor extended to less than one percent of practicing Texas attorneys based on their professionalism, service and commitment to the law. I have dedicated my adult and professional life to working with and for families and children in Jefferson County, as a teacher, volunteer and attorney. During my career, I have been blessed to be able to help hundreds of families in Jefferson County resolve their family law matters and guide them through difficult times. I am very proud of the service I have provided to my clients and the experience I bring to this position. I have the experience, familiarity with Jefferson County and its residents, and support of the local bar to serve as the next Judge of the 317th District Court. I hope to continue my service to the community, citizens and children of Jefferson County and would be humbled to be able to hear and decide these difficult cases and help families resolve these matters with dignity and respect. I have been married to my wife, Shelley, for 24 years and we reside in Nederland. We have a 23 year old son, Zack, and a 14 year old daughter, Reagan, who both attended Nederland High School and have been active in various activities in and out of school. They are the pride and joy of our lives and a big part of why I want to serve as Judge and help make Jefferson County the best place it can possibly be.
