Local Judge Honored For His Leadership

Judicial leadership. Community Servant. Family man and friend to many.

Those were just some of the words of  praise bestowed on State District Judge Al Bennett when he was honored Friday night by the Houston Black American Democrats (H-BAD).

Judge Bennett, elected in 2008 as the presiding judge of  the 61st Civil District court, is the first African-American elected by his peers to serve as the Civil Administrative Judge over all of  Harris County’s 24 civil district courts.

I served as mistress of  ceremonies for the dinner which was attended by local judges, political candidates, elected officials and community leaders.  The evening included congratulatory remarks by Judge Kyle Carter, attorney Steve Mostyn, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, who presented Judge Bennett with an official HCSO cowboy hat. 

During his remarks Judge Bennett said he considered it a privilege and an honor to serve as a judge, however, he also noted the position carries a tremendous amount of responsibility: to be fair on the bench and a role model in the community.