Supreme Court
April 27, 2022
Contact: Amy Starnes
Director of Public Affairs
512.463.1441 or email
The Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists will honor three members of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee with Judge of the Year awards in May.
Texas Supreme Court Justice Jane Bland, Justice Tracy Christopher of the 14th Court of Appeals, and Judge Robert Schaffer of the 152nd District Court will receive their awards at this year’s ceremony on May 26.
Justice Bland will be named Appellate Judge of the Year for 2021, while Justice Christopher will be honored as Appellate Judge of the Year for 2019, and Judge Schaffer will receive the Trial Judge of the Year award for 2019. Judge Tanya Garrison of the 157th District Court will be named Trial Judge of the Year for 2021. The association did not nominate award recipients in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Bland is deputy liaison to the Supreme Court Advisory Committee (SCAC), while Justice Christopher and Judge Schaffer are members. SCAC assists the Supreme Court by studying, reviewing, and developing rules of administration and procedure for Texas courts. The Committee drafts rules as directed by the Supreme Court; solicits, summarizes, and reports to the Court the views of the bar and the public on court rules and procedures; and makes recommendations for change.