Below are the remarks of Austin Bar President Mary-Ellen King during the recent retirement ceremonies for District Court Judges Rhonda Hurley and Karin Crump.
Nov. 15, 2024
Judge Karin Crump
Thank you all for coming out today. Today Travis County loses a great district judge, but the Third Court of Appeals gains a great justice.
Judge Karin Crump was elected to the district bench in 2014 and has presided over the 250th District Court since.
Judge Crump has a sterling reputation among lawyers and judges, not just in Travis County but throughout Texas. She is the immediate past president of the Texas Association of District Judges. Prior to joining the bench, Karin cut her teeth practicing criminal law, complex civil litigation, family law, and dispute resolution. The Texas Judiciary is very fortunate to have a justice with such a diverse background.
Judge Crump’s most enduring legacy so far is her commitment to mentorship. She is co-founder of the Austin Bar/Austin Young Lawyers Association’s Leadership Academy, which is an annual fivemonth program in which lawyers from all areas of practice, firm size, and levels of experience take part in service to the bar and professional development. Each program culminates in a class project. Past class projects include renovating the victim-witness room at the Gardner Betts Justice Center and donating books, games, and toys to the children’s playrooms at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility.
Judge Crump is also the judicial liaison for the Youth Justice Alliance, a nonprofit that provides high-school students throughout Texas the opportunity to take part in four-year paid fellowships. These fellowships provide legal training, internship funding, mentorship, career guidance, and law school admissions support. The program prioritizes Title-1 high schools and underrepresented communities, creating pathways to diversify the legal profession.
Judge Crump has also donated her time and talent to the Texas Young Lawyers Association, serving as its president; as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Texas Bar Foundation; and as chair of a Texas Supreme Court task force to expand the delivery of legal services.
While we are sad that our district court is losing such a talented jurist, we can rejoice in the fact that a wider swath of Texas will directly benefit from her dedication, empathy, and knowledge. Please join me in saying, “Congratulations, Justice Crump.”
Judge Rhonda Hurley
Judge Rhonda Hurley has presided over the 98th District Court, also known as the Juvenile Court, for the last 16 years. Judge Hurley has been a fierce advocate for juvenile justice reform, as evidenced most visibly by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges awarding her the Innovator of the Year Award in 2022.
The council cited Judge Hurley’s efforts in Travis County to “innovatively rethink, reimagine, and redefine justice for children and families” as advancing the council’s mission to create a society in which every family and child has access to fair, equal, effective, and timely justice.
Specifically, Judge Hurley received the award for her efforts in implementing the Strengthening Opportunities for Achieving Reentry (or SOAR) court program. SOAR is operated by both the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department and the Juvenile Court.
When youth commit crimes, they must be held accountable. However, in many cases, the justice system does not provide support for reintegration into the community. That’s where the SOAR program comes into play.
SOAR protects the community by holding youth accountable for their actions and recognizing the impact their actions have had on victims. But SOAR also helps these youth develop skills, such as using digital technology, to succeed in life after leaving the juvenile justice system, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism.
Judge Hurley has served as chair of the Travis County Juvenile Board since 2013 and previously served on the Travis County Welfare Board. She has also received the National Certificate of Recognition for Child Advocacy from the American Bar Association.
On behalf of the Austin Bar Association and on behalf of all families in Travis County, I want to thank you, Judge Hurley, for your service to the community and your belief that mistakes kids make shouldn’t prevent them from growing up to be productive and valuable members of society.