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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 242
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize women judges from across the state and to welcome them |
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to Austin on April 13, 2021, on the occasion of Texas Women |
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Judges' Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Women judges in Texas have a storied history |
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dating back to 1925, when Governor Pat Neff appointed Hortense |
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Sparks Ward, Hattie Leah Henenberg, and Ruth Virginia Brazzil to |
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serve as Texas Supreme Court justices for a case from which all of |
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the existing judges on the court had recused themselves; and |
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WHEREAS, The case involved a fraternal organization that |
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had so many prominent members that no qualified male judges or |
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attorneys could be found who did not have a conflict of interest; |
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the women appointed to serve on the supreme court were all |
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well-established attorneys, and these pioneering women formed |
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the first court in the nation composed entirely of women; and |
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WHEREAS, The first woman to hold a permanent position on a |
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Texas bench was Sarah Tilghman Hughes, a highly esteemed state |
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representative who was appointed to the 14th District Court in |
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Dallas by Governor James Allred in 1935; Judge Hughes went on to |
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win election to the seat for a full term and was reelected for six |
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more terms; in 1961, she became the first woman to serve as a |
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federal district judge in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Since that time, numerous women have served with |
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distinction on the Texas Supreme Court and on the Texas Court of |
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Criminal Appeals; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, more than 1,100 women preside over courts |
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throughout the state; they exemplify the highest standards of |
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judicial conduct, and their dedication to public service is truly |
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an inspiration to us all; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the women judges of Texas for their |
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service and their commitment to equal justice under the law and |
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extend to them best wishes for a memorable Texas Women Judges' |
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Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of this special occasion. |
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Zaffirini |
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| Buckingham |
Huffman |
Nelson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 13, 2021. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |