Judge Mark D. Atkinson Biography
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| Judge Mark D. Atkinson |
Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 13
1201 Franklin
Houston, Texas 77002
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, PAST & PRESENT
Chair, Judicial Section of the State bar of Texas
Chair, Texas Center for the Judiciary
Presiding Judge, Harris County Criminal Courts at Law
Chair, Curriculum Committee, Texas Center for the Judiciary
Board Member, Texas Center for the Judiciary
Executive Board Member, Houston Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Faculty, Texas College for New Judges
Judicial Section Liaison to the State Bar of Texas
President, Texas County Court at Law Judges Association
Chair, Criminal Justice Legislative Committee,
State Bar of Texas Judicial Section
Chair, American Probation and Parole Association Judicial Committee
JUDICIAL TEACHING
Handling Family Violence Cases
Criminal Court Docket Management
Sentencing and Supervising Criminal Offenders
Handling Driving While Intoxicated Cases
Case-flow Management
Cultural and Ethnic Diversity Issues in Family Violence Cases
Maintaining Dignity and Control in the Courtroom
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Houston Police Officer’s Association, Judge of the Year
Mexican-American Bar Association Amicus Award
Houston Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Judicial Award
League of United Latin-American Citizens Certificate of Recognition
Certification in Criminal Law from the Texas College for Judicial Studies
LEGAL CAREER
1980-1986: Attorney specializing in criminal, family and civil trial practice
1987-Present: Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 13
PERSONAL
Born November 11, 1953 in Freeport, Texas
Graduate, University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law
Married to Vicki Richards Atkinson, with four sons, ages 15 – 27
American Probation and Parole Association
Judge Mark Atkinson has been the Chair of the Judicial Committee of the American Probation and Parole Association since 2002. The American Probation and Parole Association is self-defined as “a membership-driven organization consisting of practicing or retired probation, parole and community corrections professionals; as well as academicians, researchers, members of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.” Membership extends to Canadians as well as those from the United States.
Judge Atkinson has organized and led roundtable discussions among judges attending the bi-annual APPA Conferences regarding “hot topics” in criminal sentencing.
In 2006, Judge Atkinson accompanied a delegation of criminal justice professionals on a mission to the western region of Poland, including Gdansk and Poznan, where he was asked to observe sentencing practices of judges and probation/parole officials. Upon his return, he was asked to report his observations, which were published in the summer, 2006, issue of “Executive Exchange,” a publication of the National Association of Probation Executives.
