Alfred Homer Bennett, a United States District Judge for the
Southern District Court of Texas, a position he has held since April 2015, is
the speaker for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
on November 16, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. The
church is on 2000 Phillip and 204 Dooley Streets in Prairie View. Please confirm attendance at 936-857-3272 or
email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.
Bennett is a native of Ennis, Texas, where he received his
early education. Transitioning from High
School he enrolled and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from the
University of Houston. The idea of
becoming a lawyer was always in the back of his mind and was crystallized after
he served a congressional internship during his junior year at the University
of Houston. He enrolled at the University of Texas School of Law and received d
a Juris Doctor in 1991.
Bennett began his career as an attorney at the law firm of
Fulbright & Jaworski from 1991 to 1994 and at the law firm of Solar &
Fernandes LLP from 1994 to 1998. From
1998 to 2008, he was a solo practitioner, representing individuals and
companies in litigation before both Federal and State courts. From 2009 to 2015, he served as the Presiding
Judge for the 61st Civil District Court of Texas. From 2010 to 2011, he served as the
Administrative Judge for the Harris County Civil District Courts. Bennett also campaigned for the Texas House
of Representatives District 146 during the Democratic primary in 2006.
On September 18, 2014, President Obama nominated Bennett to
serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Texas, to the seat vacated by Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt,
who took senior status on March 2, 2013.
On December 16, 2014 his nomination was returned to the President due to
the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress. On January 7, 2015, President
Obama renominated him to the same position.
He received a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2015
and the nomination was reported out on February 26, 2015. On April 13, 2015 the
United States Senate voted 95–0 in favor of confirmation. He received his judicial commission on April
15, 2015. Bennett is the first
African-American to hold this position, and the first Democrat to hold it in
years, and the youngest tenured judge.
Judge Bennett is committed to the cause of making sure
citizens are informed and volunteers regularly with the Houston Lawyers
Association, Houston Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the
State Bar of Texas to aid in those efforts. In addition, Bennett invests in the
development of future generations by devoting a large amount of time to the Boy
Scouts of America as a member of the board of directors for the Sam Houston
Area Council and an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop #242. He is also an Eagle
Scout. Additionally participates in the Black History Making Judge Kenneth Hoyt
Lectures at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Spouses
of Houston Barristers. He has been
recognized for his judicial leadership, community service by the Houston Black
American Democrats.
Family is everything to Judge Bennett. He and his wife
Tanyel, his best friend, are proud parents of two intelligent and smart sons,
who keeps him grounded as he does what he loves – serving others.
Alfred Homer Bennett, a United States District Judge for the
Southern District Court of Texas, a position he has held since April 2015, is
the speaker for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
on November 16, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. The
church is on 2000 Phillip and 204 Dooley Streets in Prairie View. Please confirm attendance at 936-857-3272 or
email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.
Bennett is a native of Ennis, Texas, where he received his
early education. Transitioning from High
School he enrolled and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from the
University of Houston. The idea of
becoming a lawyer was always in the back of his mind and was crystallized after
he served a congressional internship during his junior year at the University
of Houston. He enrolled at the University of Texas School of Law and received d
a Juris Doctor in 1991.
Bennett began his career as an attorney at the law firm of
Fulbright & Jaworski from 1991 to 1994 and at the law firm of Solar &
Fernandes LLP from 1994 to 1998. From
1998 to 2008, he was a solo practitioner, representing individuals and
companies in litigation before both Federal and State courts. From 2009 to 2015, he served as the Presiding
Judge for the 61st Civil District Court of Texas. From 2010 to 2011, he served as the
Administrative Judge for the Harris County Civil District Courts. Bennett also campaigned for the Texas House
of Representatives District 146 during the Democratic primary in 2006.
On September 18, 2014, President Obama nominated Bennett to
serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Texas, to the seat vacated by Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt,
who took senior status on March 2, 2013.
On December 16, 2014 his nomination was returned to the President due to
the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress. On January 7, 2015, President
Obama renominated him to the same position.
He received a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2015
and the nomination was reported out on February 26, 2015. On April 13, 2015 the
United States Senate voted 95–0 in favor of confirmation. He received his judicial commission on April
15, 2015. Bennett is the first
African-American to hold this position, and the first Democrat to hold it in
years, and the youngest tenured judge.
Judge Bennett is committed to the cause of making sure
citizens are informed and volunteers regularly with the Houston Lawyers
Association, Houston Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the
State Bar of Texas to aid in those efforts. In addition, Bennett invests in the
development of future generations by devoting a large amount of time to the Boy
Scouts of America as a member of the board of directors for the Sam Houston
Area Council and an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop #242. He is also an Eagle
Scout. Additionally participates in the Black History Making Judge Kenneth Hoyt
Lectures at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Spouses
of Houston Barristers. He has been
recognized for his judicial leadership, community service by the Houston Black
American Democrats.
Family is everything to Judge Bennett. He and his wife
Tanyel, his best friend, are proud parents of two intelligent and smart sons,
who keeps him grounded as he does what he loves – serving others.