Pam Liston
PRACTICE AREAS
- Governmental entities
- Mental health
- Open government
- Magistrate functions
- Ethics
- Legislation
- Criminal justice
- Municipal court
- Administrative law
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION
Pam Liston has over 26 years of legal experience in the areas of municipal law, criminal justice, and judicial leadership. She is noted for her work toward safeguarding public trust in the legal system through procedural fairness, organization and accuracy, and faithful application of the law. Ms. Liston is a past contributor to state and national programs to improve services provided by courts and local governments. Her work includes projects for the National Center for State Courts, Judicial Commission on Mental Health, State Justice Institute, Center for Court Innovation, Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, Kansas Association of Court Management, and the Texas Department of Transportation. She has experience as a city attorney, municipal judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and ethics officer. Her legal philosophy includes rigorous dedication to education, ethics, and public service.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Commissioner on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, 2021-2024
- Chancellor of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, 2010-2022
- President of the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, 2020-2021
- President of the Texas Municipal Courts Association, 2020-2021
- President of the United Methodist Church Conference Chancellors Association, 2019-2020
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Messer, Fort & McDonald, PLLC
- Chief Integrity Officer (CIO), Office of Inspector General, City of Dallas
- Presiding Judge, City of Rowlett, Texas
- Chancellor, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
- The Liston Law Firm, PC, Governmental Entity Representation
- Cowles & Thompson, PC, Public Law Section
MEMBERSHIPS & COMMUNITY RELATED ACTIVITIES
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 2008, 2019, 2021, 2022
- Judicial Section of State Bar
- Dallas Bar Association
- Leadership Rowlett, Rowlett Chamber of Commerce Program, 2004 to Present
- TMCEC/TCOLE Advisory Board Member, 2017-2019
- Mentor Judge for New Municipal Court Judges, 2012 to 2021
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- 2022 Judicial Summit on Mental Health Emcee, Judicial Commission on Mental Health
- Editor, Judicial Commission on Mental Health Bench Book, 3nd Edition
- 2021 Judicial Summit on Mental Health Emcee, Judicial Commission on Mental Health
- Editor, Judicial Commission on Mental Health Bench Book, 2nd Edition
- TMCEC C3 Initiative Capstone Presenter at Magistrate’s Exposition and Showcase, 2021
- TMCEC C3 Initiative Capstone Presenter at Bail & Bonds Exposition, 2020
- TMCEC C3 Initiative Capstone Presenter at Fines& Fees Exposition, 2019
- Tyler Technologies, Guest Speaker on Procedural Fairness (National Conference), 2020
- Presenter, “Procedural Fairness,” Kansas Association for Court Management, 2020
- TMCEC Statewide Legislative Update Presenter 2013, 2015, and 2017
- Tyler Technologies, Incode Speaker and Presenter (National Conference) 2019
- 2017 Leadership Rowlett Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
- 2015 Rowlett Chamber of Commerce Big R Nominee
- “Mechanics of Appeals” for Municipal Courts, TMCEC Outline and Presenter, 2010
- “Habeas Corpus in Municipal Courts,” Presenter, 2014
- Author, “Issues in Urban Ministry: How Church and Society are Addressing the Sex Trafficking Pandemic,” Perkins Student Journal, 2009
- Author, “Hate Crimes: Prosecute in Municipal Court?” Municipal Court Recorder, March 2002
- Author, “Blue Headlight Laws” Municipal Court Recorder, 1999
- Speaker, “Community Support,” Local Pastors of the United Methodist Church, Spring 2019
- Speaker, “Fifth Circuit Appeal and Oral Argument, Law Practice, and Emphasis on Excellence in Legal Research and Writing” Texas Tech University School of Law, Legal Research & Writing Seminar, Fall 2009
- Presenter, “Open Government,” Texas Association of Water Board Directors, Winter 2004
- Presenter, “Alternate Methods of Water District Management,” Texas Association of Water
- Board Directors Conference, Winter 2003
LICENSURE
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- State Bar of Texas
- Fifth Circuit Bar Association
EDUCATION
Master of Divinity Candidate, Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas 2005-2009
Doctor of Jurisprudence, Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas May 1994
Bachelor of Arts in English, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas December 1989