KERYL FOR HLA PRESIDENT-ELECT ***For more information on HLA and to join, visit www.HoustonLawyersAssociation.org
Judge Joseph “Tad” Halbach 333rd Civil District Court is a Member
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Meet HLA President Danyahel ‘Danny’ Norris and his wife attorney Davida Green-Norris
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anny Norris is the Principal Partner of Norris & Norris, L.L.P., which specializes in providing intellectual property law and other transactional legal services to individuals, small businesses, and other entities. Along with lecturing for various organizations, he currently serves as an Instructor of Legal Research, at Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he received a faculty appreciation award in 2011. Mr. Norris received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and a Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He is licensed to practice before the State Bar of Texas and the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Mr. Norris has published several articles on a variety of topics covering both international and domestic issues. Notably, Mr. Norris, along with his is 2010 law review article discussing Houston gentrification, was featured in the Houston Press in July 2011. Mr. Norris is active in the local bar community, where he is the current President of the Houston Lawyers Association and a member of the Houston Bar Association. He is also involved in the state-wide bar community, where he is currently serving as Treasurer of the African-American Lawyers Section for the State Bar of Texas. Nationally, he is a member of various national bar organizations, including the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davida Green-Norris is a Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduate.
udge Joseph “Tad” Halbach was appointed Judge of the 333rd Civil District Court in October of 1995. He was elected in November of 1996 and then re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008. During his 17 years on the bench, Judge Halbach has served as the Harris County Civil Administrative Judge and on the Harris County Juvenile Board. Until recently, he was the Harris County Local Administrative District Judge, and a member of the Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee. Since December of 2009, Judge Halbach has also been the Silica Multi-District Litigation Judge for the entire state of Texas. Since 1995, Judge Halbach has disposed of thousands of matters, tried hundreds of cases, and substantially reduced the size of the court’s docket. The members of the Houston Bar Association have consistently rated him as one of the very best civil district judges - a judge who works hard and is prepared, who demonstrates fairness and impartiality, who follows the law, and who is courteous to all, no matter who they are. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Halbach had more than 13 years in an active trial and appellate practice covering a wide range of complex business, commercial, insurance and tort disputes. Judge Halbach is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and a frequent writer and speaker at various CLE (Continuing Legal Education) programs. He is currently an Adjunct Professor and the University Of Houston School Of Law, teaching Trial Advocacy. Judge Halbach is also a director of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists and a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. He is member of the Garland Walker Inn of Court. A graduate of the University of Texas, Judge Halbach began his career in 1982 as an associate with Bonham, Carrington & Fox, where he stayed until 1986, when he and three other lawyers formed the firm of Wilshire, Scott, Halbach & Dyer. In late 1990, Judge Halbach began a solo practice, concentrating in litigation, but also maintaining a general business practice including corporate, partnership, contract, employment, real estate and financial matters. He also became certified as a mediator and mediated nearly 50 cases. Throughout his career, Judge Halbach has been dedicated to professional and public service. He is a past president of the Houston Young Lawyers Association and was a charter member of the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas. A member of Leadership Houston Class XII, Judge Halbach was a 1994 Five Outstanding Young Houstonian Finalist. Judge Halbach served as a director for Marywood Children & Family Services, a statewide agency headquartered in Austin, from 1993-1999 and today he is an advisory director for the Aspiring Youth Foundation, a nationwide foundation headquartered in Houston. An Eagle Scout, Judge Halbach is also active in the Boy Scouts of America, having served for more than 4 years as the Troop Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 505 and Vice-Chair for Program for the Golden Arrow District of the Sam Houston Area Council. Judge Halbach has been honored with the Silver Beaver Award, the St. George Emblem, and the District Award of Merit for his continued service to youth
through the Scouting Program. He served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1812 for the 2005 National Scout Jamboree. In the summer of 2007, he served on the International Service Team for the World Jamboree in London, England. Most recently, Judge Halbach was an Assistant Course Director for Wood Badge Course SR-920 and SR-1007, BSA’s most ad-
vanced adult leadership training. Last summer, he served on national staff for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. Judge Halbach is also a dedicated volunteer and lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, for which he serves on the Grand Entry Committee.
History of the Houston Lawyers Association The Houston Lawyers Association (HLA), an affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association, was founded in 1955 to address the particular needs of Black lawyers and the legal needs of the Black community in general. At the time the HLA was established, Black lawyers in the Houston area were not permitted to join the Houston Bar Association. HLA’s history reflects its continued desire to address racial injustice. Its founder, Robert W. Hainsworth, challenged and fought against the evils of racial discrimination that were prevalent in his day. He challenged the “one chair” rule in the County Law Library, which allowed only one particular chair to be used by a “colored” lawyer and the rule in the District Courts that all “black cases” would be handled at the end of the court’s docket. Several pioneer members of HLA were involved in litigation that resulted in the outlawing of segregation in the Houston Independent School District, the prohibition of segregated service in the County Court House cafeteria and the changing of voting practices. These persons included Weldon Berry, Matthew Plummer, Francis Williams, Heulean Lott, Robeson King and the late Honorable Henry Doyle. Finally, Hainsworth challenged the Houston Bar
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