Eva Guzman is a groundbreaking figure, with an impressive history both as a litigator and as a judge. She began her legal career in Houston, managing a successful civil law practice for a decade before accepting gubernatorial appointments, first to the Harris County District Court bench in 1999 and then, in 2001, to the Texas 14th Court of Appeals, where she served for eight years, hearing both civil and criminal cases. In 2009, she accepted a third gubernatorial appointment, becoming the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas and the first Latina to be elected to a statewide office in Texas. In more than 20 years on the bench, she ruled on thousands of trial and appellate cases and authored more than 900 opinions.

Today Justice Guzman focuses her practice on litigating cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Having served at three levels of the judiciary, she brings extensive experience and unique insights to conflicts pending in courts as well as those in the arbitration and mediation arenas. An elected member of the prestigious American Law Institute for many years, Justice Guzman has contributed to scholarly work aimed at clarifying, modernizing, and otherwise improving the law. She has collaborated on numerous projects, studies, and articles with lawyers, judges, and academicians and also has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center, teaching trial advocacy. While working on her LL.M at Duke University School of Law, she studied under United States Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito. She is a frequent speaker for legal conferences and symposiums as well as special events in Texas and throughout the country. Frequently dubbed a trailblazer, she has received dozens of honors and awards at local, state, and national levels for her leadership, service, and achievements.

Experience

  • Partner, Wright Close & Barger, LLP, 2022 – present
  • Shareholder, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, 2021 – 2022
  • Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 2009 – 2021
  • Judge, Texas 14th Court of Appeals, 2001 – 2009
  • Judge, 309th Family District Court of Harris County, 1999 – 2001
  • Private practice, 1989 – 1999, Houston, Texas

Leadership

  • Member, Leadership Council, Duke Law Bolch Judicial Institute 2021-Present
  • Board Member, Texas2036, 2022-Present
  • Chair Emeritus, Supreme Court of Texas Commission for Children, Youth, and Families 2021-Present
  • Board of Trustees, The Center for American and International Law 2016-Present
  • Duke University School of Law, Board of Visitors 2015-2019
  • Board of Trustees, South Texas College of Law 2010 – 2021
  • Former Chair, Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, Youth and Families, 2010-June 2021
  • Former Liaison, Supreme Court of Texas Access to Justice Commission, 2014-June 2021

Membership

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Elected Member, American Law Institute, 2005 – Present
  • Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Member, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston

Awards

Excellence & Achievement within the Legal Profession

  • Chambers USA (2024 to present)
  • Best Lawyers® (publ. by BL Rankings, LLC) in Commercial Litigation and Appellate Practice (2023 to present)
  • Texas Super Lawyers® (publ. by Thomson Reuters) in Appellate Practice (2023 to present)
  • Law Dragon 500 Leading Litigators (2023 to present)
  • Luther H. Soules II Award for Excellence in Litigation, State Bar of Texas Litigation Section (2021)
  • Honored for Achievement and Innovation in Work with Children and Families, Texas CASA (2020)
  • Pro Bono Excellence Award, Lone Star Legal Aid (2020)
  • Outstanding Achievement Award, Travis County Women Lawyers Association (2019)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston (2016)
  • Appellate Judge of the Year Award, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (2016)
  • Sarah T. Hughes Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, State Bar of Texas Women and the Law Section (2014)
  • Premier Women in the Law Award, Association of Women Attorneys (2014)
  • Las Primeras of Texas Recognition, Hispanic National Bar Association (2011)
  • Judge of the Year Award, Mexican American Bar Association of Texas Foundation (2009)
  • Latina Judge of the Year Award, Hispanic National Bar Association (2009)
  • Distinguished Faculty Recognition, Houston Bar Association (2000-2005;2007)
  • Judge of the Year Award, Peace Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence (P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc.) (2007)
  • Judge of the Year Award, Peace Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence (P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc.) (2003)
  • Justice of the Year, Police Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence (P.O.L.I.C.E, Inc.) (2002)

Leadership Awards

  • Recognition for 10 Years of Leadership as Chair of the Children’s Commission, Texas CASA (2020)
  • Trailblazer Honoree, National Hispanic Pre-Law Conference (2017)
  • Top 100 Latino Leaders, Latino Leaders Magazine (2017)
  • Outstanding Judicial Service and Leadership Award, Houston Bar Association Appellate Practice Section (2016)
  • Vision Award, Texas Advocacy Project (2016)
  • Texas Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee (2015)
  • Outstanding Texas Leader Award, The John Ben Shepperd Leadership Institute, The University of Texas Permian Basin (2015)
  • Modern Trailblazer Award, Association of Women Attorneys (2014)
  • Leadership Award, Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation (2013)
  • Community Leader Award, SER Jobs for Progress (2013)
  • Latina Trailblazer Award, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (2012)
  • Pathfinder Award, Texas Women Lawyers (2012)
  • 101 Most Influential Latino Leaders, Latino Leaders Magazine (2010, 2011)
  • Pathfinder Award, Travis County Women Lawyers Association (2010)
  • Pioneer Award, Institute of Hispanic Culture (2010)
  • 100 Outstanding Women in Leadership Award, Hispanic Women in Leadership (2009)
  • Women on the Move® Award, Texas Executive Women (2006)
  • Presidential Invitee, National Hispanic Leadership Summit, Washington, D.C. (2006)

Impact, Contributions, & Service Awards

  • Graciela Olivárez Award, Hispanic Law Student Association at Notre Dame Law School (2020)
  • Honorary Alumna Award, The University of Houston Law Center (2017)
  • Guardian of Justice Award, Texas Legal Services Center (2016)
  • Alumni Impact Award, South Texas College of Law (2014)
  • Woman of the Year Award, Sucesos Publications Tribute to Hispanic Women (2014)
  • Women of Distinction Award, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (2013)
  • Special Recognition for Devotion to Children, Children’s Assessment Center of Houston (2012)
  • Recognition at Executive Leadership Conference, Harris County Sheriff’s Department (2012)
  • Award of Appreciation, Houston Police Department Hispanic Officers (2011)
  • Award of Appreciation, Houston Police Department Hispanic Officers (2011)
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, Houston Independent School District (2009)
  • Recognized for Outstanding Service in the Community, Mexican-American Bar Association (2009)
  • Appreciation Award, Women in Law Enforcement (2008)
  • President’s Awards for Outstanding Service, Houston Bar Association (2006, 2008)
  • Award of Appreciation, Houston Police Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers (2003)
  • Court of Appeals Justice of the Year, Houston Police Officers Union (2002)

Media

  • Appellate Lawyers Reflect on the Legacy of Texas Justice Eva Guzman, Set to Retire Friday, Texas Lawyer (June 8, 2021)
  • 35 Houston Latinos you should know, Houston Chronicle (December 31, 2015)
  • 100 “Influentials” in Government, Hispanic Business Magazine (2010)
  • Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women, Houston Woman Magazine (2010)
  • A Profile in Professionalism, The Houston Lawyer (January/February 2006)