PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

Having completed the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center Mediation Training Course, Judge DeVasto is now broadening her Mediation and ADR practice. The experience gained through her twenty-three years in the judiciary has given her a keen awareness of the practicality and usefulness of effective mediation and ADR.

Judge DeVasto's experience and expertise from years of dealing with complex and complicated claims makes her a vital sounding board for litigation matters. Mediation and ADR are a primary focus of Judge DeVasto's practice.

As a judge, Ms. DeVasto has been involved in statewide issues affecting the legal profession, including indigent defense in criminal matters, penal code revision, judicial education, and appellate and civil trial practice.

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

• Justice, 12th Court of Appeals, July 15, 2003 to June 30, 2006, appointed by Governor Rick Perry, June 26, 2003
• Judge, 241st Judicial District Court, December 22, 1995 to July 15, 2003, appointed by then Governor George W. Bush, December 22, 1995 – elected 1996, 1998, and 2002 and unopposed in each election
• Judge, Smith County Court at Law, January 1995 to December 1995 – elected 1994
• Presiding Judge, City of Tyler Municipal Court, 1983-1994
• Alternate Municipal Court Judge, City of Tyler 1981-1983
• Interim Director, Smith County Juvenile Attention Center, January 1981 - June 1981
• Private Practice, August 1980 - July 1983 (Emphasis in Real Estate and Oil and Gas)

PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating for Very High Ethical Standards and Legal Ability from Martindale-Hubbell
A. A. White Dispute Resolution Center, 2008
College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Texas Center for the Judiciary, 2005 
J.D., Baylor University, Waco, Texas, May 1974
B.A. in Education, Baylor University, Waco, Texas May 1972

• State Bar of Texas
• Member, American Law Institute, 2003-2010 
• Member, John T. Ward Inn of Court
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2000-present
• Member, American Bar Association, Judicial Division, Appellate Judges Conference, Intellectual Property Section, 2006-2011 
• Member, State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2010-present
• Member, State Bar of Texas, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Pattern Jury Charge Committee, Malpractice, Premises & Products, 2005-2010
• Governmental Affairs Committee, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 2008 to present
  President, Smith County Bar Association, 2008-2009
• Member, American Bar Association Committee on Code of Ethics for Patent Litigators, 2007
• Member, State Bar of Texas Committee on Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters, 2004-2007
• Member, American Judicature Society, 2003-2006
• Member, Board of Directors of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, 2004-2006
• Member, Crime Victims Committee, State Bar of Texas, 2001-2004
• Member, Planning Committee, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Civil Trial Course, 2003
• Member, Judicial Section Board of Directors, 2002-2003
• Member, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Committee on Indigent Defense, 2000-2003; Chair, 2001-2002
• Member Smith County Juvenile Board, 1995-2003
• Member, Judicial Section, State Bar of Texas, Chair – Resolutions, 1998-2000
• Local Administrative Judge, Smith County Council of Judges, 1997-1999
• Member, Governor George W. Bush’s Planning Council for STOP Violence Against Women, 1995
• Member, Texas Commission on Judicial Efficiency, Funding Parity Task Force, 1995
• Member of five-member team from State of Texas chosen to attend Justice Department Conference in Washington, D.C. on implementation of Violence Against Women Act, 1995
• Texas Municipal Courts Education Center/Texas Municipal Courts Association Board of Directors, 1987-1994.  Past President of Board of Directors of statewide association.  Service on the Board of Directors has included Chair of the Education Committee, Vice-President, and teaching faculty
• Member, Texas Council on Family Violence.  Served on Public Policy Committee, 1992-1994
• Member, Texas Supreme Court Judicial Education Executive Committee, 1992-1993
• Member, Provost Advisory Committee on Judicial Education, 1992-1993.  (Provost:  Dean William Gipson, U.T. Law School)
• Member, Judicial Advisory Panel, Texas Punishment Standards Commission, 1992
• Board of Directors and Past President, Tyler Teen Court, Inc., 1991-present
• Board member, Smith County Bail Bond Board, 1988-1994.  Served as Chair, 1990
• Member, Institute of Judicial Administration, New York University School of Law
• Faculty and speaker, Texas Center for the Judiciary, State Bar of Texas, Center for American and International Law, South Texas College of Law and Eastern District of Texas Bar Association
• Served on the Board of Directors or Advisory Boards for Tyler Independent School District Foundation, People Attempting to Help (PATH), Children's Village, Hospice, Historic Tyler, Inc., Tyler Teen Court and East Texas Crisis Center
• Member, Baylor Law Alumni Association
• Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity

State Bar of Texas
Texas Center for the Judiciary

Ms. DeVasto was born in Ft. Worth, Texas. She has made Tyler her home for more than thirty years and has one daughter.