Texas Governor Greg Abbott dropped a fresh name into the judiciary mix yesterday, peppering the 73rd Judicial District Court with a new judge—Marialyn Barnard. Abbott's pick, announced Thursday, slates Barnard for a bench in Bexar County, her term ticking down until the very end of 2024.
But Barnard's no new kid on the courtroom block. Her resume reads like a legal love letter to public service and justice. A former commissioner for Bexar County's Precinct 3, Barnard's charm comes with a ten-year seasoning on the Fourth Court of Appeals and a current stint as a consulting attorney for the little guys. She's been in the ring with the big legal associations: she's a member of the State Bar of Texas and has had her hand in the cookie jars of the American Law Institute and the San Antonio Bar Association.
It's not all law and order for Barnard, though. Her heart ticks for community service too. According to a statement from the Governor's Office, she finds time for the Rotary Club of San Antonio — being both a past president and board member. She's also done a bit of volunteer work for San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries and has notched board memberships with Child Advocates San Antonio, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Firstmark Credit Union under her belt.
Educationally, Barnard's got the goods. With a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Political Science and English from Texas A&M University–Commerce, followed by a Juris Doctor straight out of St. Mary’s University School of Law, she's earned her scholarly stripes.
Abbott's choice points to a balancing act of judicial experience and civic engagement, a hopeful harmony for the bench Barnard will soon preside over. Until the gavel falls on her term's end, Barnard's appointment stands as a testament to a career built on law, equity, and the welfare of the community she's now set to serve from the judge's chair.
