H.R. No. 2536
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable George Carol Hanks Jr. received his
judicial commission on April 22, 2015, to serve as a United States
district judge of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, Nominated for the post by President Barack Obama,
Judge Hanks was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a unanimous vote on
April 20; and
WHEREAS, Judge Hanks is a native of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana,
and graduated with his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from
Louisiana State University in 1986; he went on to attain his juris
doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1989 and recently furthered
his education with his receipt of a master of laws degree in 2014
from the Duke University School of Law; and
WHEREAS, After beginning his career as a law clerk under the
Honorable Sim Lake of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of
Texas, George Hanks served as an associate at the law firm of
Fulbright & Jaworski from 1991 to 1996 and as a shareholder at
Wickliff & Hall, PC, from 1996 to 2000; from 2001 to 2002, he served
as district judge for the 157th Civil District Court of Texas, and
from 2003 to 2010, he served as a justice on the First Court of
Appeals of Texas; in September 2010, he became a U.S. magistrate
judge in the Southern District; and
WHEREAS, A member of the American Law Institute, Judge Hanks
has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law
Center and as a faculty member of the National Judicial College and
National Institute for Trial Advocacy; in addition, he has authored
legal publications and lectured at continuing education seminars
around the country; he has served on the State Bar Committee on
Pattern Jury Charges and on the Texas Judicial Panel for
Multi-District Litigation, as well as on the board of directors of
the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas; and
WHEREAS, This prominent jurist is admitted to the Texas and
District of Columbia bars, and he holds memberships in the College
of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Lawyers Association, and
numerous bar associations; moreover, he is a former special
disciplinary counsel for the Texas State Bar Commission for Lawyer
Discipline as well as a former chair and member of the District 4F
State Bar Grievance Committee in Houston; he has also volunteered
his time with a range of community organizations that include the
American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Houston; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Judge Hanks has demonstrated
an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of public
service, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his achievements as
he takes on his challenging new role; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable George Carol Hanks
Jr. on his appointment as a U.S. district judge for the Southern
District of Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for a
productive and rewarding tenure; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Hanks as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Reynolds
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2536 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House