LICENSES
Attorney: State of Texas, November, 2004
Certified Public Accountant: State of Texas
EDUCATION
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Dallas, TX
Juris Doctor, May, 2004
- Dean's Scholarship
- Trial Advocacy
- Client Counseling and Mock Trial Competition
- IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX
Bachelor of Professional Accountancy, May 1999
- Five year program required for CPA license
- Double major in Accounting and Economics
- Member, Beta Alpha Psi (scholastic fraternity for accounting)
- Recipient Fifth Year Accounting Scholarship
WORK EXPERIENCE
Lamar County Judge, Paris, TX
2019-CURRENT
Judicial:
- Jury Trials, Trials before the Court, Preside over judicial court hearing, probate, misdemeanors, juvenile, contracts, other civil, mental health, and appeals from Justice Court.
Executive/Administrative:
- Preside over Commissioners Court, serving as the county budget officer, emergency management director, and broad administrative duties.
McLaughlin, Hutchinson & Biard LLP, Paris, Texas
2013-2018
Civil Litigation:
- Trials before the Court, Temporary Orders, Litigation from client interview to resolution through agreement or trial and judgement, Legal research, Discovery (Requests and Responses), Motions, Pleadings, Depositions, Mediations, Divorce, Modifications, Custody, Property Division, Child Support, Adoptions, Terminations, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
State and Federal Law:
- Representation before the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Income Tax, Texas Sales Tax
Albin, Yates, Balius, and Roach
2012-2013
Family Law:
- Trials before the Court, Temporary Orders, Litigation from client interview to resolution through agreement or trial and judgement, Legal research, Discovery (Requests and Responses), Motions, Pleadings, Depositions, Mediations, Divorce, Modifications, Custody, Property Division, Child Support, Adoptions, Terminations, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
State and Federal Tax Law:
- Representation before the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Income Tax, Texas Sales Tax
Bailey & Galyen, Dallas, TX
2012-2012
Family Law:
- Trials before the Court, Temporary Orders, Litigation from client interview to resolution through agreement or trial and judgement, Legal research, Discovery (Requests and Responses), Motions, Pleadings, Depositions, Mediations, Divorce, Modifications, Custody, Property Division, Child Support, Adoptions, Terminations, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
Brandon Bell, Attorney at Law, Collin, Denton, and Dallas Counties, TX
2009-2012
Family Law and Civil Litigation:
- Trials before the Court, Temporary Orders, Litigation from client interview to resolution through agreement or trial and judgement, Legal research, Discovery (Requests and Responses), Motions, Pleadings, Depositions, Mediations, Divorce, Modifications, Custody, Property Division, Child Support, Adoptions, Terminations, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Mediated Settlements, Arbitration, Advice on Tax issues including: Alimony Payments, Dependency Exemptions, Division of Marital Property, Sale of Marital Estate, Community Property Rules, Innocent Spouse Provisions, Qualified Domestic Relations orders
State and Federal Tax Law:
- Advice and Planning, Research and Return Preparation, U.S. Income Tax
Criminal Law:
- Jury trials for Misdemeanor Offenses, Misdemeanor and Felony Pleas, Administrative License Revocation Hearings, Legal Research
Boyd Veigel P.C., McKinney, TX
2005-2009
Family Law and Civil Litigation:
- Trials before the Court, Temporary Orders, Litigation from client interview to resolution through agreement or trial and judgement, Legal research, Discovery (Requests and Responses), Motions, Pleadings, Depositions, Mediations, Divorce, Modifications, Custody, Property Division, Child Support, Adoptions, Terminations, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Mediated Settlements, Arbitration, Advice on Tax issues including: Alimony Payments, Dependency Exemptions, Division of Marital Property, Sale of Marital Estate, Community Property Rules, Innocent Spouse Provisions, Qualified Domestic Relations orders
State and Federal Tax Law:
- Advice and Planning, Research and Return Preparation, U.S. Income Tax, Texas Sales Tax, Oklahoma State Income Tax, Estate Tax, Offers in Compromise, Liens, Levies, Garnishment of Wages, Representations in IRS actions
Criminal Law:
- Jury trials for Misdemeanor Offenses, Misdemeanor and Felony Pleas, Administrative License Revocation Hearings, Legal Research
PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE
Cozen O'Connor, Dallas, TX
2003-2005
Attorney
- Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defense, Toxic Tort Defense
- Trial Preparation
- Legal Research
- Correspondence, Motions, Pleadings, Discovery, and Depositions
The Honorable Sydney A. Fitzwater - U.S. District Court, Dallas, TX
Summer, 2002
Federal Judicial Internship
- Drafted Opinions
- Read briefs in support of motions
- Observed court proceedings and trials, civil and criminal
- Assisted Judge and clerks in research
Liberty National Bank, Paris, TX
1999-2001
Internal Auditor
- Monitored safety of assets, Insured bank's compliance with laws and regulations of Comptroller of Currency
- Designed and implemented systems of internal control, Assessed reliability of internal information systems
- Investigated discrepancies between bank and customer records, reported to Board of Directors
- Received perfect reports from Bank Examiners
COMMUNITY SERVICE, VOLUNTEER WORK & MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships:
- First Baptist Dallas
- Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Dallas
- The National Society Sons of the American Revolution: Patriot: Larkin Cleveland
- General Society of the War of 1812: Patriot: Melchezedec Self
- The Federalist Society
Volunteer Work:
Republican Women of Red River Valley, Paris TX
- Occasional Speaker for events
- Attend Meetings
New Hope Center of Paris, Paris, TX
- Attend Board Meetings at least once a month
- Serve on the rules committee
- Review and discuss budget issues
- Provide guidance to Director of New Hope
Community Service:
- Chisum High School Senior Project Grad and CHIPS Scholarship Organization (2023-Current)
- Chisum High School Band (2015-2018)
- Chisum High School Beta
- 4-H Youth Rifle Team
- Little League Baseball Coach Blossom, TX
- Southside Baptist Church 419 Youth Group