Perry Appoints Stoddart as Justice of 5th Court of Appeals

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Craig Stoddart of Rockwall as justice of the 5^th Court of Appeals for a term to expire at the next general election.  The Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas has jurisdiction over appeals from both district and county courts located in Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Hunt, Rockwall and Kaufman counties. The Court hears both civil and criminal appeals.

Stoddart is first assistant criminal district attorney and chief of the Appellate Division for the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He is co-chair of the Government Appellate Lawyers’ Committee for the State Bar of Texas and co-author of the Texas Bar Journal 2012 and 2013 Criminal Law Year in Review. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Texas District and County Attorneys Association, Rockwall County Veteran’s Diversion Committee, Rockwall County Mental Health Task Force and Hubbard Chamber Music Society Board. He is also an advisor for Royse City Teen Court and a coach for the Rockwall YMCA Youth and Government Program.

Stoddart received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law.