Judge Michelle Slaughter, a distinguished member of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, will deliver the fall commencement address at Sul Ross State University. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday, December 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pete P. Gallego Center in Alpine.
Elected in 2018, Judge Slaughter has an impressive tenure on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s supreme court for criminal cases. During her time on the court, she has authored over 100 published opinions and participated in the decision-making for more than 30,000 criminal law matters.
Before her election to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Judge Slaughter served as a district judge in the 405th District Court of Galveston County for six years. She is credited with transforming it from the least to the most efficient court in the county, significantly reducing case backlogs during her tenure. Judge Slaughter presided over thousands of civil, tax, and felony criminal cases, including more than 100 bench and jury trials.
Judge Slaughter’s legal education was completed at the University of Houston Law Center, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. Her active participation in law school included serving as president of the Hispanic Law Students Association, competing on the moot court team, and serving on the board of directors for The Advocates. She also gained practical experience by interning for two federal judges and the Texas First Court of Appeals, in addition to becoming a certified mediator.
After her graduation, Judge Slaughter practiced at two large international law firms before founding her own successful civil litigation firm in Houston in 2010, where she managed a team until her judiciary appointment in 2013. Her legal prowess earned her the recognition as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Adding to her diverse background, Judge Slaughter also had a career in the film and TV industry, including roles in production and as a photo double for Sandra Bullock in “Hope Floats.”
A native of Fort Worth and current resident of League City, Judge Slaughter’s extensive legal experience and unique professional journey promise to inspire the graduates and attendees at the upcoming Sul Ross State University commencement.
