4 minute read
Judge Karin Crump Wins State Bar Award
250th District Court Judge Honored with Judge Sam Williams Award
The State Bar of Texas Local Bar Services Committee named Judge Karin Crump winner of its 2022 Judge Sam Williams Award. The award honors an individual who demonstrates a commitment to fostering and maintaining the relationship between the individual’s local bar association and the State Bar of Texas.
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Judge Crump does just that! Over the past two years and well beyond, Judge Crump has had a great impact on the Austin legal community. In a profession where the emergence of leadership has become common— almost expected—Judge Crump has continued to prove herself most uncommon.
What Judge Crump has done for the advancement of justice, the people of Travis County, and the state of Texas in the past two years is most admirable, but in no way surprising. Most importantly, she has shone as an innovator and facilitator of access to justice and legal education during a time when it has been needed the most, and she selflessly brought the Austin Bar Association along with her on the journey. She is the embodiment of integrity, and a leader and teacher for us all.
Judge Karin Crump (right) receiving the Judge Sam Williams Award from State Bar of Texas President Sylvia Borunda-Firth.
What Judge Crump has meant to the Austin Bar during the course of the pandemic can be best exemplified by her tireless work to ensure that access to justice was not lost or forgotten during one of the most trying times in the history of our country. In the weeks and months following March 2020, countless people recognized the need to resume the operation of our judicial systems, but were “handcuffed” by traditional notions of possibility —or impossibility. Judge Crump, however, not only stepped up to help lead the way, but was able to do so in a manner that will undoubtedly change the administration of our court system long into the future. Despite the anecdotal predictions of naysayers, she was a key facilitator in the implementation of virtual jury trials for the people of Travis County, which actually increased the size and participation of jury pools and the engagement of individual jurors. In addition, despite conventional wisdom, her efforts made the courts even more accessible to those of modest means than ever before. More impressive still, she helped countless paralegals, lawyers, and judges learn to navigate virtual trials through one-on-one interaction, published articles, and at least 14 CLE presentations, many of which she facilitated through the Austin Bar.
In addition to her role as a champion of increased access to our courts, Judge Crump was and is the primary facilitator and “encourager” in re-engaging the Austin Bar’s commitment to celebrating Law Day. Unfortunately, we had drifted away from celebrating this very important day. However, Judge Crump was determined to bring it back, and has done so quite successfully. In her own way (which she does Judge Crump stepped up again recently to enlist the Austin Bar and our members to create a program aimed at the reduction of the significant backlog of uncontested divorce cases currently awaiting processing. She once again brought the right people together to organize future pro bono clinics staffed by UT Law students and Austin Bar members to not only address the overwhelming need, but ensure swift processing and hearings for Travis County residents both now and into the future. Her efforts are already paying significant dividends. AL
