H.R. No. 634
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Judge Susan Criss of the 212th Judicial District
Court in Galveston is celebrating her 50th birthday on February 23,
2011; and
WHEREAS, Susan Criss earned her bachelor of arts degree in
government from The University of Texas at Austin and her juris
doctorate from the South Texas College of Law in Houston; she is
certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and began
practicing criminal law in 1988; and
WHEREAS, After serving as a special prosecutor for child and
elder abuse and as an assistant criminal district attorney, she
became a district judge in 1999; during her tenure of more than a
decade presiding over the 212th Judicial District Court, she has
toughened restrictions for sex offenders on probation, launched a
program that provides Spanish-speaking probationers with written
translations of forms, and created the first court website in
Galveston County, which includes a "Court Class for Children"
section designed for children who may need to serve as witnesses in
a trial; and
WHEREAS, In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008, Judge
Criss participated in managing emergency orders and reestablishing
the county's justice system; she also oversaw the timely handling
of more than 4,000 claims arising from a refinery plant explosion
that occurred in 2005 in Texas City; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed jurist is the founder of three
organizations to assist Galveston County residents: the Advocacy
Center for Children, the Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force, and the
Child Fatality Review Task Force; moreover, she is the chair of the
Gulf Coast Center MHMR Jail Diversion Task Force and a member of the
National Association of Women Judges and the Texas Bar Foundation;
and
WHEREAS, Honored in 2005 by the Fred C. Johnson Foundation
with a "People Who Make a Difference" award, Judge Criss has
received numerous recognitions for directing the Color of Justice
video project, which features minority judges, lawyers, and law
students and encourages schoolchildren to pursue careers in law and
the judiciary; she has lectured widely on such topics as emergency
preparedness, media interaction, and domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, Judge Susan Criss has set an outstanding example of
hard work, dedication, and concern for others, and those served by
the 212th Judicial District Court are indeed fortunate to have the
benefit of her knowledge, experience, and leadership; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor state district court judge Susan Criss on
the occasion of her 50th birthday and extend to her sincere best
wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Criss as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Eiland
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 634 was adopted by the House on March
10, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House