H.R. No. 2554
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Alfred H. Bennett was nominated as
United States district judge for the Houston Division of the
Southern District of Texas by President Barack Obama, and his
appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 13, 2015; and
WHEREAS, From 2009 until his confirmation, Judge Bennett
served as presiding judge for the 61st Civil District Court of
Texas; he also served as the administrative judge for the Harris
County Civil District Courts in 2010-2011, having been elected
unanimously by his colleagues as the first African American, first
Democrat, and youngest-tenured judge to hold that position; and
WHEREAS, Judge Bennett completed his bachelor's degree in
political science at the University of Houston and went on to
graduate from The University of Texas School of Law in 1991; he was
employed by Fulbright and Jaworski and then by Solar and Fernandes
before establishing a solo litigation practice in 1998; for 10
years, he taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at the
Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the advancement of the legal system,
Judge Bennett is very involved in continuing legal education as a
presenter and judicial panel member, and he has benefited his
profession in a host of leadership roles; he currently serves the
State Bar of Texas as commissioner of the Texas Access to Justice
Commission and as chair of its Strategic Planning Committee, and he
is a member of the College of the State Bar; in addition, he is a
member of the Houston Bar Association Administration of Justice
Committee and of the National Bar Association Gertrude E. Rush
Mid-Year Planning Committee; he served on the National Bar
Association Constitution and Bylaws Committee, and he held several
offices in the State Bar Committee on Lawyer Referral and
Information Services; moreover, he served the Houston Lawyers
Association as president and chair; and
WHEREAS, Alfred Bennett has distinguished himself on the
bench and through his outstanding contributions to the legal
community, and he is indeed deserving of the confidence placed in
him by the United States president and senate; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Alfred H. Bennett on
his appointment and confirmation as United States district judge
for the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas and
extend to him sincere best wishes as he takes up his new
responsibilities; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Bennett as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Reynolds
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2554 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House