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CHILD 
PROTECTION
LAW
SECTION

The purpose of the Child Protection Law Section is to promote the objectives of the State Bar of Texas by improving the practice of Child Protection Law and by educating Texas attorneys who practice in this area.

PRACTICE AREAS

ANNUAL EVENTS

ADVANCED CHILD PROTECTION LAW COURSE 2025

Georgetown- March 6-7, 2025

More information to come.

Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center

1101 Woodlawn Ave

Georgetown, TX 78628

(737) 444-2700

Register: (Online when available)

SBOT Annual Meeting: CPLS CLE 2025

San Antonio - June 19, 2025 (tentative)
More information to come.

JW Marriott Hill Country
23808 Resort Pkwy
San Antonio, TX   78261
(210) 276-2500

Register: (Online when available)

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT WORKSHOP 2025

San Antonio - Aug 6, 2025
More information to come.

Marriott Rivercenter 
101 Bowie
San Antonio, TX   78205
(210) 223-1000

Register: (Online when available)

Call for Nominations!

"Rutland Excellence in Advocacy Award"

To be Awarded by the State Bar of Texas

Child Protection Law Section at the
2025 Annual Advanced Child Protection Law Course

Recognizing outstanding legal service by practitioners helps to improve the quality of legal services by exemplifying standards to strive toward.

 

Procedure: Submit the nomination form below that includes specific reasons for why your nominee should be considered for the award. Please provide the email address, mailing address, and phone number of the nominee. Also, indicate whether you authorize publication of your name as the nominator of the nominee.

 

Deadline: Nomination form must be received by January 3, 2025

 

Award Criteria:

  • Only practicing attorneys are eligible (private or government).

  • Candidate must have made a substantial contribution in the field of Child Protection Law.

  • Judges and Council officials of the State Bar Child Protection Law Section are not eligible to receive the award.

  • NOTE: Nominees will be eligible for the award for this year and two years thereafter. 

Do you authorize publication of your name as the nominator?
YES
NO
OUR VISION

OUR MISSION

The Child Protection Law Section's mission is to ensure the safety, well-being, and permanency of children in Texas by fostering excellence in legal advocacy. We strive to:

  • Enhance the knowledge and skills of attorneys representing children, parents, and governmental entities;

  • Promote the highest standards of legal practice in cases involving possession, conservatorship, termination of parental rights, foster care placement, and adoption;

  • Support ongoing education, training, and professional development for child welfare attorneys; and

  • Collaborate with the judiciary, legislature, and other stakeholders to continually improve the child protection system.

We commit to upholding the integrity and compassion necessary to advocate effectively for the most vulnerable members of our society.

ATTORNEYS

OUR COUNCIL

Officers
b harris_edited.jpg

JUDGE BILL HARRIS
(Paris)

CHAIR

Attorney Kellie Price

KELLIE PRICE
(San Antonio)

TREASURER

AuroraProofs(184of234)_edited.jpg

JUDGE AURORA
MARTINEZ JONES
(Austin)

CHAIR-ELECT

MICHAEL HULL (Houston)

SECRETARY

Attorney Yolanda Cortes Mares

YOLANDA CORTES-MARES
(Temple)

VICE CHAIR

Attorney Mark Briggs

MARK BRIGGS
(El Paso)

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Council Members: Term Ends 2025
Attorney Emily Miller.jpg

EMILY MILLER
(Brownwood)

MICHAEL KOTWAL
(Dallas)

Attorney Charity Borserine

CHARITY BORSERINE
(Allen)

Council Members: Term Ends 2026
Attorney Amanda Lockhart

AMANDA LOCKHART
(Bryan)

Judge Robin Sage

JUDGE ROBIN SAGE
(Longview)

Judge Cheryll Mabray

JUDGE CHERYLL MABRAY
(Llano)

Council Members: Term Ends 2027

RICHARD DECK
(El Paso)

Judge Angela Graves-Harrington

JUDGE ANGELA GRAVES-HARRINGTON
(Houston)

Attorney Michele Surratt.jpg

MICHELE SURRATT
(Lubbock)

CONTACT
Law

CONTACT US

For any inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:

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