About Judge Criss
A national advocate for fairness and equal opportunity in the justice system, Judge Susan Criss is running for the Texas Supreme Court because she believes Texans deserve someone who is strong enough to do the right thing - bring balance and accountability to the state’s highest court of last resort.
Judge Criss was elected to the 212th District Court in Galveston County in 1998 and handles both felony criminal and civil cases. She has spearheaded tougher sanctions against sex offenders and fought for stronger child protections. She directed the Gulf Coast Task Force on Jail Diversion for the Mentally Ill, a groundbreaking group that seeks to secure treatment for non-violent mentally ill offenders in the community while saving taxpayers money and freeing up jail space for violent criminals. The Gulf Coast National Alliance for the Mentally Ill named her their top honoree for 2003 for her efforts.
Recognized around the nation for her leadership on behalf of women judges and the recruitment of minorities for careers in the law, Judge Criss has received numerous awards, including the 2005 People Making A Difference Award from the Fred C. Johnson Foundation, the 2004 Outstanding Woman Officeholder in Texas Award from the Texas Democratic Women Association, and the 1994 Outstanding Young Lawyer of Galveston County Award.
A former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, Judge Criss served as assistant district attorney in Galveston County from 1986 to 1997. She was elected to her current post in 1998.
Judge Criss earned a BA in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston. Throughout her legal career, she has been a law clerk in the Texas Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Division, chief of the Misdemeanor Division of the Galveston County DA’s office, served as Special Prosecutor for Child and Elder Abuse in that office, and run her own private practice.
Known for her embrace of modern technology to demystify the legal system, Judge Criss has worked in recent years to encourage the rich diversity of Texas to champion their legal rights. She won a prestigious Telly Award in 2005 for the documentary, “The Color of Justice,” on which she served as executive producer. She created the first court web site in Galveston County to inform attorneys, law enforcement officers, witnesses, jurors, the media, and the general public about court schedules, policies, rules, and jury service. She also developed a “Court Class for Children” section of the website, which teaches children about what happens in court and what to do if they become witnesses in a trial.
In addition, Judge Criss launched a program that provides Spanish-speaking probationers written translations of forms containing probation conditions, rules, terms, and other information critical to their cases. Judge Criss is board certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar, the Texas Bar Foundation, the Galveston County Community Supervision and Corrections Board, the Galveston County Juvenile Probation Board, the Galveston County Purchasing Board, and the Galveston County Criminal Justice Board. She has served on the Board of Directors for Gleanings From the Harvest, an organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in Galveston, and is a founding member of Galveston County’s Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force, Child Fatality Review Team, and Child Advocacy Center.
The Texas Supreme Court is the state’s highest legal arena for civil matters and is comprised of a chief justice and eight justices elected on the statewide ballot.
Contact Info
Susan Criss Campaign
Lloyd Criss, Treasurer
PO Box 16474
Galveston,TX 77552
409-771-4069
Email - info@judgecriss.com
Vist the Criss Campaign website - Click here
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San Marcos, Texas 78666