Address:

Fort Bend County Justice Center

1422 Eugene Cir, Courtroom 3H

Richmond, Texas 77469

Judge Presiding

Judge Janet B. Heppard

Republican Party

Elected:

2018 Election

In office January 1, 2019-December 2022.

Education:

Bachelor in Geology and Geophysics, Wright State University 1981

Summa Cum Laude

Juris Doctor & Masters of Business Administration, University of Houston 1993

Previous Experience:

Geophysicist at Amoco Production Company in Houston, Texas for 8 years.

Solo practitioner 1993-1995

Staff attorney-UHLC Clinical Program 1995-2019

Family law and free legal services to low-income individuals.

Promoted to Clinic Director in 2008. Promoted again to Full Clinical Professor in 2019.

Awards:

  • Longevity of Exemplary Service to the Houston Bar Association Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program every year since 1995
  • Award of Merit from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for work on Hague Convention Cases
  • Lonestar Legal Aid “Most Litigated Pro Bono Cases” Award,
  • Lonestar Legal Aid Community Partner Award,
  • Ethel M Baker Faculty Award for leadership promoting greater interaction between the University and the local community.

Memberships:

  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Burta Rhoads Raburn Family Law Inns of Court.

Associate Judge Richard “Rick” T. Bell

Appointed:

September 2016

Previous Experience:

Richard Thomas Bell & Associates 1997-2016

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Southwestern University 1994

Juris Doctor, Sotuh Texas Colle