H.R. No. 1111
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins has
been named 2008 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News and
has been selected as one of Governing Magazine's 2008 Public
Officials of the Year; and
WHEREAS, A native of Dallas, Mr. Watkins graduated from
Prairie View A&M University with a bachelor's degree in political
science and went on to earn his juris doctorate from Texas Wesleyan
University School of Law; he established himself as a defense
attorney and businessman, opening a law office and title company
with his wife, Tanya, before becoming the first African American to
win election as a district attorney in Texas; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Watkins has won national attention for the
reforms and initiatives undertaken since his inauguration in
January 2007; in light of the high number of DNA-based exonerations
in Dallas, he partnered with the Innocence Project of Texas to
reexamine nearly 40 death penalty cases and review hundreds of
felony convictions dating back to 1970; Mr. Watkins created a
conviction integrity unit, and the county now leads the nation with
19 DNA exonerations to date; placing justice and public safety over
high conviction rates, he has also revised procedures for
eyewitness identification to reduce the number of false
identifications; and
WHEREAS, With a philosophy of being "smart on crime," Mr.
Watkins has focused on the root causes of criminal activity and such
underlying issues as illegal substance abuse and lack of skills and
education; he emphasizes rehabilitation to reduce crime and
recidivism, promoting efforts to help low-level, nonviolent
criminals become productive, law-abiding citizens on their
release, rather than more hardened and dangerous repeat offenders;
and
WHEREAS, The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals named Mr.
Watkins to its new Texas Criminal Justice Integrity Unit in June
2008; his innovative strategies and dynamic leadership have brought
numerous accolades, including the Torch Award from the Dallas Urban
League and selection as a member of Ebony magazine's Power 150, a
list recognizing the next generation of leaders; this
groundbreaking Texan has been featured in such national
publications as the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and
the New York Times and on television's Good Morning America and 60
Minutes; and
WHEREAS, Craig Watkins has brought transformational change
to the Dallas County district attorney's office, increasing
confidence in the criminal justice system and working to decrease
crime through proactive measures as well as convictions; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dallas County District Attorney
Craig Watkins on being named 2008 Texan of the Year by the Dallas
Morning News and being selected as one of Governing Magazine's 2008
Public Officials of the Year and extend to him best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Watkins as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Vaught
Kent
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1111 was adopted by the House on April
9, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House