Bridgette Smith-Lawson, Esq. ............................................Fort Bend County

Bridgette Smith-Lawson, Esq.

2022 TRAILBLAZER

Bridgette Smith-Lawson is a 19 year public servant and a 19 year licensed attorney. In November 2020, Bridgette was elected in Fort Bend County as the County Attorney, making her the

FIRST black female county attorney in

Texas AND Fort Bend history.

As the County Attorney, she manages an office of attorneys and support staff that is directly responsible for providing legal advice and representation to the County

Commissioners, department heads, and every aspect of county government including law enforcement – Sheriff’s

Office and Constables. In addition, the office represents the State in child welfare cases.

During her first year in office, County

Attorney Lawson and her team navigated

Fort Bend County through uncharted legal issues including the pandemic, mask mandate litigation, redistricting and much more. Some of the highlights from her first year in office include but are not limited to the following: • Created FIRST ever Fort Bend County boarding home policy to ensure the safety, protection, and dignity of aged and disabled citizens in Fort Bend County • Assisted in creating the FIRST ever body worn camera policy for all Fort Bend County law enforcement agencies • Successfully settled with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for damages sustained by the county in connection with the opioid epidemic – cash settlement and opportunity for county to fund opioid deterrent programs from a $28 million fund • Operation Lavender – Member of the joint taskforce with the District Attorney’s office, Fort Bend County Sherriff and other law enforcement agencies to attack human trafficking in Fort Bend County • Created FIRST ever County Regulations banning illicit massage parlors that promote criminal activity • Settlement reached with the US Department of Justice for language access impediments stemming from 2017 to ensure Fort Bend supports its diverse community with language access and implementing the FIRST ever language access program for equal access to justice in court operations • Created the FIRST ever Regulatory division of the County Attorney’s Office to investigate and assist the county with compliance with federal, state, and local laws • Navigated the legal agreements and final arrangements for the removal of the Jaybird Monument, a racist monument erected in 1896 Prior to her election, Mrs. Smith-Lawson was the Managing Attorney with the Office of General Counsel – Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Regions 5 & 6 consisting of up to 23 counties in Southeast Texas where she managed a division of attorneys and legal assistants providing legal services for the agency within the Gulf Coast Area. As a member of the Texas Health and Human Services Executive Leadership Academy she cross trained on other State agencies including Emergency Management. In August of 2019, Mrs. Smith-Lawson was recognized as one of the Top 30 Most Influential Women of Houston. Most notably, in October 2019, she won a landmark immigration appeal against the US Department of Homeland Security resulting in a nationwide immigration policy change for the benefit of immigrant children. Before joining the Department, she was in private practice and practiced in the areas of criminal law, family law, personal injury including pharmaceutical litigation, civil litigation, probate, bankruptcy (7,11,&13), and guardianship matters. Mrs. Smith-Lawson graduated cum laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in May 2003 and was licensed in November 2003. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Houston in 2000 with a major in Political Science and a minor in English. Mrs. SmithLawson is also licensed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and in Immigration Court. She has been married 22 years and is a mother of two daughters ages 15 and 12 years old. In her spare time she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Bridgette Smith-Lawson, Esq. County Attorney Fort Bend County 301 Jackson Street Richmond, Texas 77469 (281) 342-3411 www.fortbendcountytx.gov