Judicial Service

Judge – 333rd Civil District Court (1995–2016)

Texas Statewide Silica MDL Judge (2009–2016)

Harris County Local Administrative Judge—Board of District Judges (2008-2011)

Member—Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (2009-2011)

Harris County Civil Administrative Judge (2004-2005)  

Chair of the Rules Committee—Board of Civil Judges (2001 – 2004)

Chair of Internal Procedures Committee—Board of Civil Judges (1996 – 2000)

Harris County Juvenile Board (2001 – 2002); Master Asbestos Judge (1998-1999)

Chair of the E-Filing and Paperless Technology Committee—(2006-2008)

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Legal Practice

Mediation / Arbitration Practice (2017–Present)

Solo Practitioner, Law Offices of Joseph J. Halbach, Jr. (1990-1995)

Founding Shareholder, Wilshire, Scott, Halbach & Dyer (1986-1990)

Associate, Bonham, Carrington & Fox (1982-1986)

 

Certifications and Training

Board Certified—Civil Trial Law; Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Member—College of the State Bar of Texas

Attorney-Mediators Institute, Inc. (Basic Training 1993) (Advanced Training 1994)

 

Teaching

Adjunct Law Professor—University of Houston Law Center (2009-2016)

Frequent CLE speaker and writer.

 

Law Licenses

State of Texas—1982

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas—1983

United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit—1982

United States Supreme Court—1986

 

Education

University of Texas at Austin—B.A. (with honors) 1978

University of Texas at Austin—Graduate School of Business 1978-79

University of Texas at Austin—J.D. 1982 (Board of Advocates; Tex. Int’l L. Journal).

 

Professional Associations

Texas Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Houston Young Lawyers Association; President 1993-1994

Houston Young Lawyers Association; Judicial Liaison 1996-1999

Houston Young Lawyers Association; Co-Chair, Scouting with the HYLA 2005-Present

Houston Young Lawyers Foundation; Board of Trustees 1992-1993

Pro Bono College—State Bar of Texas

Houston Bar Association; Board Member (ex-officio) 1993-1994

Houston Bar Foundation—Fellow; Texas Bar Foundation – Fellow

Association of Women Attorneys—Member

Mexican American Bar Association of Houston—Member

Houston Lawyers Association—Member and Mentorship Volunteer

Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists—Board Member (1999-present)

Member—Garland Walker Inn of Court (American Inns of Court)

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Civic Service, Honors and Awards 

2013 Judge of the Year—Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists

Houston Bar Association—Presidents Award—Harris County Pro Bono Awards

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; Volunteer and Lifetime Member (2009-present)

Good Steward Global Initiative—Volunteer (2014–present)

Marywood Children & Family Services; Director (1993–1999)

Aspiring Youth Foundation—Advisory Director (1995–Present)

Leadership Houston—Class XII; Heath & Human Services Committee (1994-1995);

Chair—Government Committee (1998-1999); Outside Director (1998–1999)

Five Outstanding Young Houstonian Finalist—1994

Adult Leader, Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council (1986-Present);

Eagle Scout Award—1974; Order of the Arrow—Brotherhood Member 1973;

Asst. Cubmaster (1998-2003)

and Religious Awards Chair—Pack 505 (1998–2010)

Troop Committee Chair—Troop 505 (2001—2006)

Council Advancement Committee—Sam Houston Area Council (2011–present)

Heroism Awards Screening Committee—Sam Houston Area Council (2011-present)

Vice-Chair of Program—Golden Arrow District, Sam Houston Area Council (2002- 2007)

Silver Beaver Award (2005),St. George Award (2006), District Award of Merit (2004)

 

Personal 

Active Member—St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Married to Susan T. Halbach (retired Assistant General Counsel at Kinder Morgan);

Two sons, ages 32 and 30 (both Eagle Scouts); two grandchildren.

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