Home2020 Democracy Star: Former Justice Sue Walker

2020 Democracy Star: Former Justice Sue Walker

Former Justice Walker was invited to participate in an interview about her political career, but was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.

Awardee Selection Process

The Tarrant County Republican Party joined with the League of Women voters this year to honor women in elected office. Women considered for the award included those currently serving in elected office and one who had served in the past. The League stipulated that awardees must currently live in Tarrant County. The Party put forward Former Justice Walker for recognition as a 2020 Democracy Star.

Professional Honors

2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Tech University School of Law
2012 Outstanding Jurist from the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Charles J. Murray Outstanding Jurist Award from the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association
2009 election to membership in the prestigious Serjeant's Inn of the Dallas and Fort Worth Inns of Court for long and meritorious service to the Inns of Court and the legal profession

Experience

Focused legal career on the practice of appellate law.
Briefed, argued, and prevailed in appellate cases at the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and various appellate courts across Texas.
Elected in 2000 to Second District Court of Appeals of Texas serving the Texas counties of Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
Served as Chair of, the Civil Appellate Board Certification Exam Commission.
Participated in the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court and ultimately served as the organization’s Treasurer, Counselor, and President.
Named by the Texas Supreme Court to its Task Force on Judicial Readiness in Times of Emergency.
Served on the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society Board of Trustees and also on the Tarrant County Bar Association Board of Directors in a variety of capacities.
Elected in 2004 to the American Law Institute, the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.
Served as a faculty member of the New York University Law School and taught and mentored new state and federal appellate judges from across the United States at the Institute of Judicial Administration New Appellate Judges Seminar.
A Charter and Sustaining Fellow of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, and an ASTAR Science and Technology Fellow.
Authored and presented numerous scholarly papers and articles on a variety of appellate topics throughout her legal and judicial career.
Taught Criminal Appellate Procedure at Texas Wesleyan School of Law.
Retired in November 2018 from the Second District Court of Appeals after authoring over 2,500 legal opinions during her tenure.
Enjoys continued membership in the American Law Institute, the Tarrant County Bar Association, and Emeritus membership in the Eldon B. Mahon Chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Education

Grew up in Amarillo, Texas and attended Tascosa High School
Graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin
Earned a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law
Attained Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization just seven years after law school graduation.

Family and Community

Married for thirty-five year and parent of two adult children and five grandchildren
Served on the boards of a variety of civic and charitable organizations including the Tarrant County AIDS Outreach Center, Compassus Hospice, Dance Theatre Arlington, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington, the Lamar Baseball Booster Club, as a YWCA Cheerleading Sponsor, and as a YWCA Softball Coach.
Volunteered as Republican Party precinct chair and an election judge.
Maintained many years membership and served on the board of the Republican Women of Arlington.
In retirement, Justice Walker is grateful for opportunities to serve the Lord. She loves spending time with her grandchildren and is an avid tennis player.