SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 535
	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
	recognize women judges from across the state and to welcome them
	to Austin on April 13, 2015, on the occasion of Texas Female
	Judges' Day at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Women judges in Texas have a storied history
	dating back to 1925, when Governor Pat Neff appointed Hortense
	Sparks Ward, Hattie Leah Henenberg, and Ruth Virginia Brazzil to
	serve as Texas Supreme Court justices for a case from which all of
	the existing judges on the court had recused themselves; and
	WHEREAS, The case involved a fraternal organization that
	had so many prominent members that no qualified male judges or
	attorneys could be found who did not have a conflict of
	interest; the women appointed to serve on the supreme court
	were all well-established attorneys, and these pioneering
	women formed the first court in the nation composed entirely
	of women; and
	WHEREAS, The first woman to hold a permanent position on a
	Texas bench was Sarah Tilghman Hughes, a highly esteemed state
	representative who was appointed to the 14th District Court in
	Dallas by Governor James Allred in 1935; Judge Hughes went on to
	win election to the seat for a full term and was reelected for six
	more terms; in 1961 she also became the first woman to serve as a
	federal district judge in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Since that time, numerous women have served with
	distinction on the Texas Supreme Court and on the Court of
	Criminal Appeals; and
	WHEREAS, Today, more than 1,000 women preside over courts
	throughout the state; they exemplify the highest standards of
	judicial conduct, and their dedication to public service is truly
	an inspiration to us all; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
	Legislature, hereby commend the women judges of Texas for their
	service and their commitment to equal justice under the law and
	extend to them best wishes for a memorable Texas Female Judges'
	Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
	honor of this special occasion.
	West, Huffman
	Bettencourt Hall Perry
	Birdwell Hancock Rodríguez
	Burton Hinojosa Schwertner
	Campbell Huffines Seliger
	Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Galveston
	Ellis Lucio Taylor of Collin
	Eltife Menéndez Uresti
	Estes Nelson Watson
	Fraser Nichols Whitmire
	Garcia Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on April 13, 2015.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate