H.R. No. 1271

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Honorable Laura A. Weiser retired from the Victoria County Court at Law No. 1 on February 28, 2013, after more than 20 years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, First elected to the bench in 1990, Judge Weiser rendered decisions on civil and criminal cases involving both adult and juvenile offenders; she is known for her evenhandedness and her belief in holding offenders accountable while effectively guiding them on the path to productive citizenship; she counted among her proudest accomplishments her success in lowering the recidivism rate of adults with substance abuse problems by requiring them to check in with authorities at regular intervals and by monitoring them with ankle bracelets and other tools; and

WHEREAS, Judge Weiser has additionally devoted her abilities to ensuring that young persons receive proper treatment and avoid the "revolving door" of the justice system; to that end, she advocated for and oversaw the construction of the first juvenile detention facility in Victoria, where she presided over cases for many years; moreover, she collaborated with Victoria ISD officials and members of the district attorney's office to plan and coordinate an effective system for dealing with truant students; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Houston Baptist University, Laura Weiser earned her doctor of jurisprudence degree in 1985 by taking night classes at the University of Houston Law Center while teaching during the daytime; she later continued her studies and received degrees from the College for New Judges, the Texas College for Judicial Studies, and the National Judicial College; and

WHEREAS, Relocating to Victoria with her family in 1985, Ms. Weiser worked for two local law firms before becoming a staff attorney with Coastal Bend Legal Services, a position that involved providing counsel to indigent clients; she subsequently joined the criminal district attorney's office and represented the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in prosecuting interstate child support cases and juvenile delinquency proceedings; and

WHEREAS, Judge Weiser has shared her knowledge and expertise with her peers in a multitude of professional organizations; in addition to spending a decade as a faculty member and advisor for the College for New Judges, she served for several years as chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary and as elected chair of the judicial section of the state bar; in 2011, she was appointed by Wallace B. Jefferson, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, to the Texas Judicial Council, a policy-making body composed of judges, lawmakers, and citizen leaders; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, Ms. Weiser has benefited from the love and support of her husband, Juan Velasquez III, who is retired as the judge of Victoria County Court at Law No. 2, and she takes great pride in her children, Jessica and Scott; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed jurist has served Victoria County with fairness, foresight, and professionalism, and she can take great pride in her outstanding record of achievement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Laura Ann Weiser on her retirement as judge of Victoria County Court at Law No. 1 and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in her future endeavors; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Judge Weiser as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Morrison

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1271 was adopted by the House on April 17, 2013, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House