Honorable Mark Atkinson
Chief Executive Officer, Texas Center for the Judiciary
A judge for 30 years, Judge Atkinson is the CEO of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, the non-profit organization responsible for developing and delivering judicial education required of Texas trial and appellate judges. During his 24 years as the judge of a Houston, Harris County Criminal Court at Law, he was involved in judicial education and leadership. During his six elected terms, he handled approximately 100,000 cases and conducted approximately 1,000 jury trials, 500 of which were involved charges of driving while intoxicated.
Immediately upon retiring from the bench, Judge Atkinson accepted the position of Texas Judicial Resource Liaison, pursuant to a Texas Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Grant. The grant originates with the Texas Impaired Driving Plan and reflects elements set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Duties in that capacity included educating judges, prosecutors, probation officers, policy-makers and the public regarding reducing the number of alcohol and other drug related crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
In addition to serving as the Texas Center for the Judiciary’s CEO, he has been awarded the designation of Certified Association Executive by the American Society of Association Executives. Judge Atkinson has served as Chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, President of the Texas County Criminal Courts at Law Association, Chair of the Judicial Committee of the American Probation and Parole Association, Judicial Section Liaison to the State Bar of Texas, Chair of the Criminal Justice Legislative Committee of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, member of the International Committee of the National Association of Probation Executives, member of the Judicial Advisory Committee of the Texas Association of Court Administrators and member of the Texas Bar Foundation. Judge Atkinson has received recognition and awards, including the National Association of Probation Executives George M. Keiser Excellence in Leadership Award, the Texas Center for the Judiciary’s Judicial Excellence in Education Award, the Texas Center for the Judiciary Chair’s Award of Excellence, the Houston Police Officers Association’s Judge of the Year Award, the Houston Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Award, the Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston’s Amicus Award and the League of United Latin American Citizens’ Certificate of Recognition.