Commissioners

Harriet Miers Chair Harriet Miers Chair "The Supreme Court of Texas announced Dallas attorney Harriet Miers will assume the role of Chair of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, effective January 1, 2022." [Read more.] Harriet Miers is a partner at Locke Lord LLP and has offices in Dallas, Austin, and Washington, DC. She served in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001-2007 as Staff Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Counsel to the President. Miers was the first female President of the Dallas Bar Association and of the State Bar of Texas. She received the Sandra Day O’Connor award from the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and the Robert G. Storey Award for Distinguished Achievement from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Miers holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the Southern Methodist University School of Law.	Hon. Brett Busby Supreme Court of Texas Liaison Hon. Brett Busby Supreme Court of Texas Liaison Jusitce Brett Busby of Houston is a former Justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, having served from June 2012 through December 2018, and previously was a partner at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law, and a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court. He is board-certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a committee chair for the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the chair of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, and a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee and the Federalist Society. He is a member and past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, a former member of the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and a former gubernatorial appointee to the Commission to Study and Review Certain Penal Laws. Additionally, he is chair of the Houston Symphony Society Artistic Affairs Committee, a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum, and a member of the Houston Civic Symphony First Violin Section. He is a board member of Houston Volunteer Lawyers, a former trustee of the Post Oak School in Houston, and an Eagle Scout. A seventh-generation Texan, Busby received a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. Judge Busby was sworn into office by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.	James P. Sullivan Ex-Officio Member James P. Sullivan Ex-Officio Member James Sullivan bio coming soon!	Hon. Judith Zaffirini Ex-Officio Member Hon. Judith Zaffirini Ex-Officio Member The second highest-ranking state senator, Judith Zaffirini has passed 1,024 bills (more than any legislator in the state’s history); cast 60,000 consecutive votes since 1987; and received more than 950 honors for her legislative, professional, and civic accomplishments. Also a member of the Texas Judicial Council, she champions preventing cronyism and corruption in the legal system, protecting persons under guardianship and/or with intellectual and emotional disabilities, and increasing access to justice. Her legislation includes creating legal self-help centers; multi-county law libraries; standardized forms for landlord-tenant disputes, wills, and other basic legal matters for low-income Texans; and eliminating "debtors' prisons." Her son, Carlos Jr., a member of the Access to Justice Foundation, established the Carlos Sr. and Senator Judith Zaffirini Access to Justice Initiative, which pays bar review and exam costs for low-income UT law graduates who will represent low-income clients. Senator Zaffirini holds B.S., M.A., and PhD degrees from UT-Austin.
Hon. Gene Wu Ex-Officio Member Hon. Gene Wu Ex-Officio Member State Representative Gene Wu proudly serves the people of District 137 in the Texas House. Prior to being elected in 2012, he served as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he sought justice for thousands of crime victims. Gene is currently an attorney in private practice. Outside his legislative work, Gene remains active and involved in the Houston community. For the past nine years, he has worked with Neighborhood Centers Inc. in conducting monthly workshops that have helped several thousand Harris County residents become United States citizens. Gene currently serves on community advocacy organization boards such as the OCA-Greater Houston Advisory Board, the Chinese Community Center Advisory Board, and the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Centers Advisory Committee. He is the past President of the Houston 80-20 Political Action Committee. Gene has also served as a mentor and teacher for adults in the Skills for Living program, and tutored at-risk youth at Sharpstown High School. Gene grew up in the Southwest Houston neighborhood of Sharpstown. He earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from Texas A&M University, a Master’s Degree from the LBJ School for Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, and a Law Degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston. Gene and his wife, Miya, reside in Southwest Houston. They are the proud parents of two sons.	Chad Baruch Commissioner Chad Baruch Commissioner Send me an email Chad Baruch is a board-certified appellate attorney in Dallas. In 2015, he wrote “the Hip Hop Brief” while representing what the New York Times called “a glittering array of hip hop stars” in the United States Supreme Court. The brief garnered national media coverage, with one newspaper calling it “the greatest amicus brief in Supreme Court history.” Chad has a lengthy history of service to Texas lawyers, culminating in his 2017 nomination to run for President of the State Bar of Texas. Chad has served as Chair of both the Consumer & Commercial Law and Individual Rights & Responsibilities Sections, the Council of Chairs, and the Texas Bar College. He is the recipient of the Gene Cavin Award (lifetime contributions to Texas CLE), the Dan Price Award (excellence in legal writing), the Patrick Wiseman Award (lifetime contributions to constitutional rights in Texas), and the Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award. In addition to practicing law, Chad is a former college and high school head basketball coach. He also worked 12 years as a high school administrator and AP government teacher.	Hon. Nicholas Chu Commissioner Hon. Nicholas Chu Commissioner Send me an email Judge Nicholas Chu was sworn in as Justice of the Peace for Precinct Five in Travis County, Texas, in May of 2017. Previously, Judge Chu served as an Assistant District Attorney with the District Attorney’s Office of Travis County and as a chief misdemeanor prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney’s Office. Judge Chu is the chair of the Texas Supreme Court’s Justice Court COVID-19 Response Working Group, was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court’s Remote Proceedings Task Force, and serves on the executive committee for the American Bar Association’s National Conference of Specialized Court Judges. He is also a volunteer faculty member for the Texas Justice Court Training Center. Judge Chu presided over the nation’s first fully virtual/remote criminal jury trial in August of 2020 and was recognized as 2021’s Judge of the Year by the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association, Texas’ largest association of elected officials. Judge Chu is the proud son of immigrants and the grandson of the owner of the first Chinese restaurant in Grapevine, Texas, where he was raised. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his B.A. in Government, and he earned his law degree from Baylor Law School. Judge Chu is Travis County's first Asian American Justice of the Peace. Nick and his wife live happily in Austin with their daughter.	Alistair Dawson Commissioner Alistair Dawson Commissioner Alistair Dawson is an acclaimed trial lawyer. Alistair has handled and tried a variety of challenging commercial lawsuits. As a result of his skills and hard work, Alistair has earned widespread praise from clients and colleagues as a “go to” trial lawyer. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America (2012-2018) for commercial litigation, Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star - Texas (2014-2017) for antitrust and commercial litigation, and by Chambers USA (2005-2017) as a leading trial lawyer in Texas. Alistair is also a member of the nationally acclaimed American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Alistair matches his trial skills with active civic involvement and leadership positions with the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association. He is currently on the State Bar Board of Directors and is Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation Fellows. Alistair previously served as President of the Houston Bar Association. He is often sought after as a presenter and speaker at various legal events and symposiums, and devotes significant time to pro bono matters, having served on the Board of Directors for the Houston Volunteer Lawyers and Lone Star Legal Aid. Alistair graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts and obtained his law degree from the University of Texas.
Joe Escobedo Jr. Commissioner Joe Escobedo Jr. Commissioner Send me an email Jose “Joe” Escobedo Jr. is Board Certified, AV-rated and has over 30 years of experience in complex commercial and tort litigation. He is a partner with Escobedo & Cardenas, LLP, in Edinburg, Texas. Mr. Escobedo is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has previously served as President of the RGV-ABOTA Chapter. He served on the State Bar of Texas (SBOT) Board of Directors and as Chair of the SBOT Board. Mr. Escobedo is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow and presently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Bar Foundation. Mr. Escobedo received his law degree from the University of Texas.	Hon. Roy Ferguson Commissioner Hon. Roy Ferguson Commissioner Bio coming soon!	Katie Fillmore Commissioner Katie Fillmore Commissioner Katie Fillmore is a trial attorney in the Austin office of Duane Morris LLP, focusing on healthcare and commercial litigation. She primarily represents healthcare providers, including physicians, hospitals, and labs in payment disputes with insurance companies. She is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star and by Best Lawyers on its Ones to Watch list. Prior to private practice, Katie worked for the Texas Supreme Court as a policy attorney, focusing on issues related to the court system’s handling of child-protection cases. She has long had an interest in ensuring vulnerable populations are fairly represented before the courts. Katie started her legal practice as a judicial law clerk at the First District Court of Appeals, where she assisted with the handling of both civil and criminal appeals, including from pro se litigants. Prior to her legal career, Katie worked for the Texas House of Representatives and understands the legislative process both from the inside and formerly as a registered Texas lobbyist. Katie has been on the board of Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) for the past 12 years, including serving as President of the organization. During her tenure on the AYLA board, Katie started a service project to provide foster children with pro bono attorneys. That project was recognized by the American Bar Association with the 1st place recognition for service projects. Katie has been on the board of Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) for the past 5 years, first as a district director for the Austin area and now as TYLA’s liaison to the ATJ Commission. On the TYLA board, Katie co-chair’s TYLA’s Access to Justice Committee, which has similar goals and initiatives to the Access to Justice Commission.	Gabriela Garcia Commissioner Gabriela Garcia Commissioner Send me an email Gabriela Garcia is the Project Coordinator at BASTA (Building and Strengthening Tenant Action) where she organizes and supports Austin renters in developing tenant associations so that neighbors can work collectively to improve the conditions of their homes and ensure that all Austinites have access to safe and affordable housing. Over the past 20 years she has worked in the nonprofit sector as an organizer, paralegal and advocate for employment, immigration, and housing justice. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where she helped open the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project. Gabby graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A in Psychology.
Luz Herrera Commissioner Luz Herrera Commissioner Luz Herrera is a professor and Associate Dean for Experiential Education at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth. She oversees and coordinates all experiential programs including clinics, simulation courses, multiple externships and field placements, advocacy skills competition teams, and post-graduate training programs. Herrera previously served as an Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, Experiential Learning, and Public Service at the University of California - Los Angeles School of Law, as a Visiting Clinical Professor with University of California - Irvine School of Law, and worked as a solo practitioner for nearly a decade assisting low- and moderate-income clients remedy their civil legal needs. Herrera holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.	Lisa Hobbs Commissioner Lisa Hobbs Commissioner Send me an email Lisa Bowlin Hobbs is a board-certified Civil Appellate lawyer and Founding Member of the premier appellate boutique, Kuhn Hobbs PLLC. Lisa became known across Texas when, at the age of 30, she was picked by the Texas Supreme Court as its first ever General Counsel. Prior to serving as General Counsel, she served as the Court’s Rules Attorney. Lisa is a member of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, a commissioner of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, and a Trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. She serves on the editorial board of The Advocate, a publication of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas. Lisa also serves as an officer on the SBOT Civil Appellate Section and the Austin Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section, and served as Chair of the Austin Bar Association’s Civil Appellate Section. Lisa has taught Texas Civil Procedure at the University of Texas School of Law and Media Law at Houston Baptist University. Before founding Kuhn Hobbs PLLC, Lisa practiced in the appellate section at Vinson & Elkins LLP. She is an honors graduate of The University of Texas School of Law and graduated summa cum laude from Houston Baptist University. Lisa began her legal career as a law clerk for the late Texas Supreme Court Justice James A. Baker.	Roland K. Johnson Commissioner Roland K. Johnson Commissioner Roland Johnson is a proven leader in the Texas legal community and an attorney for Harris, Finley & Bogle, PC. A former president of the State Bar of Texas, he has been repeatedly honored for his professionalism and legal knowledge, and is often asked to speak on ethics, professionalism, arbitration, and leadership issues. Roland’s experience benefits his clients and the community in their quest for justice in commercial litigation, arbitrations, and legal malpractice arenas. In 2018, Roland was in the Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers list for Texas, a Thompson Reuters service published in Texas Monthly magazine. Roland is a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, a member of American Board of Trial Advocates, a member of the American Law Institute, board member of Texas Access to Justice Foundation and commissioner to Texas Access to Justice Commission. But perhaps most importantly, he has served as Swine Barn Superintendent for the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show since 1998. He received his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate from Baylor University.	Tom Leatherbury Commissioner Tom Leatherbury Commissioner Send me an email Tom Leatherbury is co-head of the Appellate Section of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and the Director of the First Amendment Clinic at the SMU Dedman School of Law. Tom currently serves as the President of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society and as a member of the Council of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section and of the Editorial Board of the ABA’s Communications Lawyer. He has served as a member of the ABA Forum Committee on Communications Law Governing Committee and as President of the Defense Counsel Section of the Media Law Resource Center and of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. He has also served as Chair of the Dallas Bar Association's Media Relations Committee and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Dallas Bar Foundation (which honored him with its Justinian Award in 2018). Tom has been ranked in First Amendment Litigation and Appellate Litigation by Chambers USA, has been named in Best Lawyers in America in First Amendment Law, Commercial Litigation, Appellate Law, and Bet-the-Company Litigation, and is a member of the American Law Institute (and an Advisor on the current project concerning the defamation provisions of the Restatement of Torts). Tom is licensed to practice in Texas and is admitted to practice before all federal courts in Texas, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Federal Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. He graduated summa cum laude from Yale College, with a B.A. in history, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he worked in the Mental Hospital Legal Services Clinic and served as chair of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization. Immediately after law school, Tom clerked for the Hon. Robert M. Hill, a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas. Tom has served as amicus counsel for the Texas Access to Justice Commission and for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation in several appeals. He has also served as pro bono counsel for Texas Appleseed, the Texas Civil Rights Projects, the League of Women Voters of Texas, and a number of publishers, broadcasters, and journalists.
Bill Marple Commissioner Bill Marple Commissioner Bill Marple is Director of Pro Bono & Bar Relations at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. He clerked for a U.S. District Judge, was Director of Litigation at Indiana Legal Services, was Director of the Staff Counsel’s Office for the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans, was counsel at Jones Day from 1984-2012, and is an Associate Municipal Court Judge in Dallas. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law and has published several law review articles on evidence, civil procedure, and business-related issues. He has been a speaker on pro bono service for the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and at many State and local bar events. Marple and his wife Sandy own and show champion American Saddlebred horses. He has served on the Board of the American Saddlebred Horse Association in Lexington, Kentucky. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University.	Hon. Michael C. Massengale Commissioner Hon. Michael C. Massengale Commissioner Michael Massengale is a Houston-based arbitrator and mediator, practicing with JAMS. Formerly a partner in an international law firm, he began his career as a trial lawyer working primarily on complex commercial disputes, predominantly in energy-related industries. He left private law practice to accept an appointment by Gov. Rick Perry to the First Court of Appeals. He is board-certified in civil appellate law, he has over a decade of judicial experience, and he continues to serve by appointment as a visiting appellate justice. Michael served for six years as a commissioner on the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families, where he chaired the Training Committee and oversaw the creation of a trial skills training program for attorneys handling parental-termination cases. He is a fellow of the Texas and Houston bar foundations and a principal benefactor of the JAMS Foundation, which shares its dispute resolution experience and expertise for the benefit of the public interest. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute. Michael graduated from Dartmouth College and earned his law degree at The University of Texas.	David R. McAtee II Commissioner David R. McAtee II Commissioner David McAtee, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, is responsible for all legal matters at AT&T as well as for AT&T's public policy organization. He was appointed General Counsel in October 2015 and Chair of the AT&T Foundation in May 2018. David joined AT&T in January 2012 , prior to that, he was a partner of Haynes and Boone, LLP, an Am Law 100 firm based in Dallas, where he specialized in complex litigation matters, antitrust and government investigations. He also served as the administrative partner of the firm’s Dallas office. Prior to joining Haynes and Boone, David was senior law clerk to U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer, then Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas. David is a former executive committee member of the State Bar of Texas, chair of the Board of Editors of the Texas Bar Journal, and chair of the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. He has twice received a Presidential Citation by the State Bar of Texas for leadership in the bar and received a Leadership Award from TexasBarCLE for his contributions in support of continuing legal education. David is a former president of The Dallas Assembly and the Trinity Commons Foundation, the coordinating organization for local, state and federal government initiatives in the $1.5 billion Trinity River Corridor Project in Dallas. He currently serves on the board of directors of St. Mark’s School of Texas, Methodist Health System and the Alcuin School. Born in Dallas, Texas, David graduated from Duke University with honors and from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was an associate editor of The Review of Litigation.	Karen Nicholson Commissioner Karen Nicholson Commissioner Karen Nicholson had long had education as a primary focus. Before recently retiring to Austin, Nicholson was vice-president of the Midland ISD Board of Trustees. She taught in the Austin and Richardson ISD’s and was adjunct professor of mathematics at Midland College. She followed education for the LWV in the legislature for numerous sessions. In the League of Women Voters for many years, Nicholson has served as president of LWV Texas and LWV Midland and served 4 terms on the LWVUS Board, 2 of those as Vice President. At LWVUS, she chaired the Advocacy and Litigation Committee and the Education Committee, among others. Nicholson has served as a public member of the Commission for Lawyer Discipline and the State Bar of Texas Grievance Oversight Committe and currently is a member of Texas Legal Services Board and the State Bar’s Disciplinary Rules and Referenda Committee.
Hon. Latosha Lewis Payne Commissioner Hon. Latosha Lewis Payne Commissioner Bio and photo coming soon!	Terry O. Tottenham Commissioner Terry O. Tottenham Commissioner Since 1978, partner at Fulbright & Jaworski specializing in complex litigation in federal and state courts throughout U.S. Currently, Of Counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright in Austin Office. Proud father to 3 daughters and Dad Tot to six grandsons. MOST IMPORTANTLY, anxiously awaiting Bruce Springsteen’s U.S. stadium tour beginning in January!!	Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Alfred A. Valenzuela Commissioner Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Alfred A. Valenzuela Commissioner Gen. Valenzuela served 33 years in the US Army spanning 3 Combat Corps, 6 Divisions & numerous interagency assignments in postings that traversed the globe: Turkey, Syria, Korea, Colombia, Haiti, Peru, Germany, Grenada, Panama, El Salvador, Kuwait, Iraq & Somalia. Decorated for Heroism & Valor, he was awarded the two highest peacetime honors the military has to offer--the Defense & Army Distinguished Service Medals. A disabled vet, Gen. Valenzuela's dedication to the troops with whom he served has carried over into civilian life. He is co-founder of the Center of Terrorism Law & the Warrior Defense Project at St. Mary’s School of Law, both of which help provide pro bono criminal defense to veterans. He has published several books and donated part of the proceeds to the children and families of casualties of the wars in Afghanistan & Iraq. Named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one the 100 Influential Hispanics in America, Gen. Valenzuela was designated by the Mayor of San Antonio to be the President/CEO of both the San Antonio & Bexar County Housing Authorities; sits on the Boards of the National Recreation Foundation, St. Mary’s University, and Haven of Hope; is a proud distinguished alumnus of St. Mary’s University and Jefferson High School; and is a member of the Boys & Girls Club of America's Alumni Hall of Fame. He is married to Esther Trevino and father of two children: Lori Valenzuela, Justice of the 4th Court of Appeals and former Criminal District Court and Veterans Felony Treatment Court judge, and Freddie Valenzuela, Jr., Program Manager for several educational foundations. They have 4 grandchildren.	Kennon L. Wooten Commissioner Kennon L. Wooten Commissioner Send me an email Kennon is a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico, where she focuses primarily on civil litigation but also handles appeals and advises clients on rule-related matters. Previously, she served as the Texas Supreme Court’s Rules Attorney, worked at Baker Botts, and clerked for former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson of the Texas Supreme Court. Kennon has a track record of service and a commitment to increasing access to justice. For example, she served on the Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services and is a member of the State Bar’s Pro Bono College. In addition, she speaks frequently at CLE events and has helped with planning CLE events. She also serves as a member of the State Bar’s Board of Directors, the American Law Institute, the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, the Texas Supreme Court Remote Proceedings Task Force, and the Editorial Board for The Advocate—a publication of the State Bar’s Litigation Section. Previously, she served as the President of the Austin Bar Association and of the Austin Young Lawyers Association, the Chair of the State Bar’s Court Rules Committee, the Editor-in-Chief for Austin Lawyer, and as a member of and secretary for the Texas Legal Services Center. In her free time, Kennon enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family and friends, and writing. She is a published co-author of law-review articles and a book on discovery practices in Texas.
Harry M. Reasoner CHAIR EMERITUS Harry M. Reasoner CHAIR EMERITUS "Harry M. Reasoner served as Chair [of the Texas Access to Justice Commission] for 12 years. During that time, the Commission made incredible advancements in its mission to increase access to justice for the poor in Texas, including redoubling its legislative and congressional efforts in pursuit of additional civil legal aid funding. His remarkable commitment also has resulted in greater public awareness of and support for providing low-income Texans with vital civil legal services." [Read more.] Reasoner is a partner at Vinson & Elkins in Houston, Texas. His principal area of practice is complex civil litigation, including antitrust and securities litigation. Reasoner is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and the American Bar Foundation. Reasoner’s professional memberships include The American Law Institute and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Reasoner serves on the Board of Trustees of Baylor College of Medicine and as a Trustee Emeritus of Rice University and The Center for American and International Law. Reasoner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Rice University and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.