81R25287 MMS-D
By: Hughes H.R. No. 1746
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Bonnie Leggat Hagan of Marshall
concluded a distinguished 20-year judicial career with her
retirement on December 30, 2008, from the 71st District Court; and
WHEREAS, After serving from 1980 to 1985 as a Harrison County
assistant prosecutor, Judge Leggat Hagan was appointed by Governor
Mark White as Harrison County district attorney; with her selection
to that post, she became the first woman to serve as district
attorney in the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Judge Leggat Hagan made history again in 1987 when
she won election as the first woman to preside over the 71st
District Court; among the many new court programs instituted during
her tenure on the bench were two of immeasurable value to children:
Kid Safe and CASA; Kid Safe, which Judge Leggat Hagan was
instrumental in initiating and developing, is designed to help
divorcing parents foster their children's emotional health during
times of stress; Judge Leggat Hagan's court was the first in Texas
to adopt the program, which has now been implemented in every other
county in the state; the second major effort to benefit youth, CASA,
provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children; the
Harrison County CASA program was established in 2007 and is
expected to expand into Marion and Panola Counties within the next
two years; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed jurist has served on the Supreme Court
Task Force on Rules of Discovery, delivered presentations and
authored papers on various legal topics, and served as a speaker and
panel member for continuing legal education programs; and
WHEREAS, Deeply involved in her community, Judge Leggat Hagan
has been a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of East Texas
and for Harrison County CASA, as well as Caddo District troop chair
for the Boy Scouts of America; she is a founding board member of the
Marshall-Harrison County Literacy Council and an elder and deacon
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, Since stepping down from the bench, Judge Leggat
Hagan has joined her husband, James Richard Hagan, in private
practice; the couple are the proud parents of two sons, David Roth
and Samuel Joseph; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as a district judge, Bonnie Leggat
Hagan exemplified the highest standards of her profession and
earned the appreciation and high regard of countless fellow
citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Bonnie Leggat Hagan for her outstanding
service as judge of the 71st District Court and extend to her
sincere best wishes for continued success in all her endeavors;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Leggat Hagan as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.