Experience
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)
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)
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.