Annual Awards

TEX-ABOTA has, over the years, recognized exceptional trial lawyers, jurists, journalists, teachers, and citizens for their service in the promotion of the Seventh Amendment and civil justice.

2024

Trial Lawyer of the Year
Shannon Ratliff
Jurist of the Year
Hon. Amos Mazzant
Champion of Civil Justice
Dr. Mary Beth Womack

2023

Trial Lawyer of the Year
Don Jackson
Jurist of the Year
Hon. Darlene Byrne
Champion of Civil Justice
Dean A.J. Bellido de Luna

2022

Lifetime achievement
Dicky Grigg
Trial Lawyer of the year
Randall Sorrels
Jurist of the year
Hon. Patricia O. Alvarez
Champion of Civil Justice
Suellen R. Perry

2021

Lawyer of the year
Kathryn Snapka
Jurists of the year
Hon. Kristen Hawkins
Hon. Rabeea Collier
Hon. Randy Crane
Champion of Civil Justice
Prof. Stephen M. Sheppard

2020

No Awards

2019

Trial Lawyer of the year
Steve McConnico
Jurist of the year
Nelva Gonzales Ramos
Champion of Civil Justice
None Selected

2018

Trial Lawyer of the year
John Kim
Jurist of the year
Hon. Rodney Gilstrap
Champion of Civil Justice
Dr. Joyce Johnston
Deborah Keen

2017

Trial Lawyer of the year
Kenneth Tekell
Jurist of the year
Hon. Ken Molberg
Champion of Civil Justice
Robert L. Duncan

2016

Trial Lawyer of the year
Terry Tottenham
Jurist of the year
Hon. Mary Lou Robinson
Champion of Civil Justice
Mark Cuban

2015

Trial Lawyer of the year
David Beck
Jurist of the year
Hon. George P. Kazen
Champion of Civil Justice
Justin Strelsky
Formerly 7th Amendment Champion

2014

Trial Lawyer of the year
Tom Melsheimer
Jurist of the year
Hon. John K. Dietz
7th Amendment Champion
Joe Wicker

2013

Trial Lawyer of the year
Lewin Plunkett
Jurist of the year
Hon. Leonard Davis
7th Amendment Champion
Maricela Ayala

2012

Trial Lawyer of the year
Robin Gibbs
Jurist of the year
Hon. Fred Biery
Justice Sue Walker
7th Amendment Champion
Dr. Jerry Polinard

2011

Trial Lawyer of the year
Winford Dunn
Jurist of the year
Hon. Micaela Alvarez
7th Amendment Champion
Dr. Jerry Perry

2010

Trial Lawyer of the year
Dick Sayles
Jurist of the year
Hon. Ed Kinkeade
7th Amendment Champion
Jan Miller

2009

Trial Lawyer of the year
Wayne Windle
Jurist of the year
Hon. T. John Ward
7th Amendment Champion
None Selected
Formerly Journalist of the Year

2008

Trial Lawyer of the year
Charla Aldous
Jurist of the year
Hon. W. Jeanne Meurer
Journalist of the year
None Selected

2007

Trial Lawyer of the year
Dicky Grigg
Jurist of the year
Hon. Ralph K. Burgess
Journalist of the year
None Selected

2006

Trial Lawyer of the year
Franklin Jones, Jr.
Jurist of the year
Hon. Patrick Higginbotham
Journalist of the year
Mimi Swartz

2005

Trial Lawyer of the year
Pat Simek
B. Lee Ware
(Mr. Ware passed away 2 weeks before the event and his widow, Kim Ware, accepted the award)
Jurist of the year
Hon. Sam Spark
Justice Anne Gardner
Journalist of the year
Mark Curriden

2004

Trial Lawyer of the year
Blackie Holmes
Jurist of the year
Hon. Royal Ferguson
Journalist of the year
Keven Ann Willey

2003

Trial Lawyer of the year
Broadus Spivey
Jurist of the year
Hon. Phil Hardberger
Journalist of the year
Clay Robinson

2002

Trial Lawyer of the year
Mark Werbner
Jurist of the year
Hon. James Nowlin
Journalist of the year
None Selected

2001

Trial Lawyer of the year
Alice Oliver-Parrott
Jurist of the year
Associate Justice James A. Baker
Journalist of the year
Mary Flood

2000

Trial Lawyer of the year
Lewis Sifford
Jurist of the year
None Selected
Journalist of the year
Mark Curriden

1999

Trial Lawyer of the year
Lisa A. Blue
Jurist of the year
Justice Deborah G. Hankinson
Journalist of the year
None Selected

1998

Trial Lawyer of the year
Tommy Jacks
Robert G. Vial
Jurist of the year
Justice Greg Abbott
Journalist of the year
Walt Borges

1997

No Awards

1996

Trial Lawyer of the year
Fred Baron
Jurist of the year
Hon. Merrill L. Hartman
Journalist of the year
Tom Barry

1995

Trial Lawyer of the year
Tracy Crawford
Jurist of the year
None Selected
Journalist of the year
None Selected

1994

Trial Lawyer of the year
William L. Hughes, Jr.
Jurist of the year
None Selected
Journalist of the year
Molly Ivins

1993

Trial Lawyer of the year
None Selected
Jurist of the year
None Selected
Journalist of the year
Zack Z. Smith