We are proud to announce that the Dallas Bar Association named Judge Birmingham as the 2024 Jurist of the Year. The recognition is a deeply meaningful honor for him. “I had a hard time keeping my composure when I got the call from [Dallas Bar Association] President Bill Mateja. I’m proud to share this recognition with this stellar group of Trial Lawyers and with Judge Carmen White. It’s the biggest highlight of my judicial career.”
The Dallas Bar Association first handed out the award in 2021 to Senior Federal Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn. Justice Ken Molberg won the award in 2022, and Justice Maricela Moore Breedlove won it in 2023. Judge Birmingham is the first felony district judge to receive the honor.
The Dallas Bar Association has conducted judicial evaluation polls during odd numbered years for over 70 years. According to the DBA website, DBA members “are asked to evaluate judicial performance based on personal, firsthand knowledge of the judges that they obtained within the preceding four years that is of such a degree that the attorney is reasonable able to evaluate the judge’s performance. The poll contains questions about whether a judge is prepared for hearings and trials, issues opinions and orders without unnecessary delay, is impartial, demonstrates adequate knowledge of the law, and demonstrates a proper judicial temperament and demeanor.” In 2023, Judge Birmingham received the highest overall approval rating (87%) of any judge in the poll, and has been the highest rated felony judge in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
The Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association conducted a Judicial Survey beginning in 2021 in odd numbered years. According to their website, the results were “obtained by an anonymous polling of our membership … where they rated each elected criminal judge within the Dallas Frank Crowley Courthouse based on six different questions on a scale of 1 to 5.” The were asked to rate a judge’s temperament, availability, responsiveness, knowledge, impartiality, and overall performance. In both 2021 and 2023, Judge Birmingham was the highest rated felony district judge.