Hon. David Garcia
Judge Garcia has served as the judge of County Criminal Court #3 in Denton County, Texas since his appointment on September 1, 1997. He received his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1984 and a BA from Texas Tech University in 1981. Prior to taking the bench, he was in private practice in Denton. He has served as Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, dean of the Texas Judicial College for the Study of Alcohol and other Drugs, a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, member of the Court of Criminal Appeals Judicial Education Committee, and he serves on the Judicial Advisory Board for the Texas Association for Court Administration. He is a member of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges, the Denton County Bar Association, and the American Judge’s Association. Judge Garcia has served on several judicial legislative and curriculum committees and other state-wide committees affecting the judiciary.
Hon. Steve Ables
Judge Stephen B. Ables serves as presiding judge of the 6th Administrative Judicial Region of Texas. He has undergraduate and law degrees from Baylor University and was named Outstanding Young Alumnus of Baylor in 1989. In addition, Judge Ables and his wife, Lynda, were named Baylor Parents of the Year in 1999–2000. The State Bar Judicial Section also honored Judge Ables in 1999–2000, naming him Criminal Judge of the Year. In September, 2002, the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce named Judge and Mrs. Ables as Outstanding Citizens of the Year. Currently, Judge Ables serves on the State Foster Care Task Force and coaches the three-time State Champion Kerrville Tivy High School mock trial team. Judge Ables is a past chair of the Judicial Section State Bar of Texas and the Texas Center for the Judiciary. However, Judge Ables says his biggest claims to fame are once playing golf with Tiger Woods, sitting on the Supreme Court, and singing in the Vatican.
Judge Kathleen A. Hamilton serves as a judge of the 359th District Court in Conroe. Prior to taking the bench in 2003, she was managing attorney for the Montgomery County Women’s Center (1997–2003) and first assistant district attorney (1993–97), assistant district attorney (1990–93), and assistant county attorney (1987–90) for Montgomery County. Judge Hamilton is a frequent lecturer at continuing education conferences on the subjects of family and juvenile law, family violence and protective orders, and the criminal justice system. Judge Hamilton is a graduate of Texas Tech University (earning both a BA and an MA), Sorbonne (diplôme supérieur), and University of Houston Law Center (JD).
Craig Ball of Austin is a Board Certified trial lawyer, certified computer forensic examiner and electronic evidence expert. He's dedicated his globetrotting career to teaching the bench and bar about forensic technology and trial tactics. After decades trying lawsuits, Craig now limits his practice to service as a court-appointed special master and consultant in computer forensics and electronic discovery, and to publishing and lecturing on computer forensics, emerging technologies, digital persuasion and electronic discovery. Craig writes the award-winning Ball in Your Court column on electronic discovery for Law Technology News and is the author of numerous articles on e-discovery and computer forensics, many available at www.craigball.com. Craig Ball has consulted or served as the Special Master or testifying expert in computer forensics and electronic discovery in some of the most challenging and well-known cases in the U.S. Craig is a recipient of the Presidents' Award, the State Bar of Texas' most esteemed recognition of service to the profession and of the Bar's Lifetime Achievement Award in Law and Technology.
Judge John Hyde received the Exemplary Article Award for his article “Trends in Oil and Gas Law,” presented at the 2011 Texas College for Judicial Studies. Judge John Hyde has been on the bench of the 238th District Court since May 1990. Judge Hyde received his undergraduate degree from Hardin-Simmons University and was awarded a JD from the University of Texas School of Law.
Judge Oldner was appointed by Governor Rick Perry as the first judge of the 416th Judicial District Court in 2003. Before he was appointed to district court, he presided over County Court at Law No. 5 for over 3 years. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Oldner was the Chief Felony Prosecutor for Crimes Against Children in the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Judge Oldner’s professional activities and awards include serving as the chair of the Curriculum Committee for the Texas Center for the Judiciary (TCJ); serving on the TCJ Board of Directors; recipient of the Outstanding Judicial Faculty Award; serving as Local Administrative Judge for Collin County District Courts; recipient of the State Bar of Texas President’s Award of Merit; serving on the Judicial Advisory Board for the Texas Association of Court Administrators; serving on the Board of Directors for the Collin County Bench/Bar Foundation; recipient of the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Collin County; serving as a Director for the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA); serving as the President of the Collin County Young Lawyers Association; and recipient of the TYLA President’s Award of Merit. Judge Oldner received his B.A. from Baylor University and his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law. He has been married to his wife Cissy for 17 years and they have three beautiful daughters, Claire Elizabeth (10 years old), Olivia Grace (7 years old) and Lily Maydelle (3 years old).
