Judge Kirkendall

ABOUT W. C. Kirkendall

Arbitration and Mediation
Phone: (830) 556-2760

Profile

I have had a varied legal career. Prior to assuming the bench, I was a partner in a general practice law firm, in addition to being district attorney. In that firm, I practiced general civil litigation primarily involving family law, real estate, oil and gas and consumer law. I was also part-owner and manager of a title company, becoming well-versed in Texas real estate law. We represented several local institutions including banks, school districts and a river authority. I have tried over 400 jury trials as an advocate or judge. I was an active mediator from 1995-2005 and estimate that mediation was about 20% of my practice.

I have of course developed expertise in criminal law as both district attorney and district judge.
As a district judge, civil cases constitute approximately one-half of my docket. I have handled as judge many family law cases, real estate litigation, consumer litigation, personal injury cases, condemnation cases and employment law cases. Due to the Eagle Ford Shale, I have handled many oil and gas cases on my docket as well.

Experience

  • Judge, 2nd 25th Judicial District — 2005-Present
  • District Attorney, 25th Judicial District — 1984-2004 Served as the chief prosecutor in Colorado, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Lavaca counties.
  • Partner, Kirkendall, Frost & Allen; Seguin, Texas — 1975-2004 As name partner in law firm, practiced general litigation, including family law, oil & gas law, real estate law.
  • Briefing Attorney, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Austin, Texas — 1974-1975 Researched and wrote opinions in criminal appeals.

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas J.D., 1974
  • Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa B.A. in History, 1971

Awards

  • Exemplary Judicial Faculty Award, Texas Center for the Judiciary – 2012
  • Chair’s Award of Excellence for Service to the Judiciary, Texas Center for the Judiciary – 2015
  • Texas Prosecutor of the Year, State Bar of Texas – 1996
  • Political Courage Award, Jon Ben Sheppard Public Leadership Forum – 1993

Accreditations

  • Admitted to Practice: Texas, 1974; United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1977; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1980; United States Supreme Court, 1980
  • Basic Mediators Course, Attorney Mediators Institute, 1995
  • Family Law Mediators Course, Attorney Mediators Institute, 1996
  • Member, Attorney-Mediator Institute

Professional Involvement

Member, State Bar of Texas

Guadalupe County Bar Association

  • President, 1979-1981

Texas District and County Attorneys Association

  • President, 2000
  • Chairman of the Board, 2001
  • Secretary-Treasurer, 1998
  • Board Member, 1992-1995
  • Legislative Committee, 1991-2004; Chair, 1995
  • Prosecutor Standards and Guidelines Committee
  • Frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars

Texas Center for the Judiciary

  • Curriculum Committee
  • Long Range Planning Committee
  • Frequent speaker at judicial education seminars

Community Activities

First United Methodist Church, Seguin, Texas

Positions held at various times:

  • Chair and member, Administrative Board
  • Chair and member, Finance Committee
  • Chair and member, Stewardship Committee
  • Member, Staff-Parish Relations Committee
  • Member, Methodist Day School Board
  • Sunday School teacher, various adult and youth classes

Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center

  • Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2002-2004

Guadalupe County MH-MR

  • Board Member, 1980-1984

American Heart Association, Guadalupe County Chapter

  • President, 1978
  • Board Member, 1976-78

Seguin Pregnancy Center

  • Founding Board Member

Seguin Youth Basketball Association

  • Founder, board member, and coach, 1982-2004

Seguin Little League

  • Coach, 1985-1998

United Fund

  • Drive Chair, 1978

Seguin Library Board

  • 2008-2014

Personal

Born in 1949; Married Alice Scull Kirkendall in 1974, and has three married children:

Katie Burrus (a graduate of Southwestern University and Harvard Law School) and husband, Dr. Clint Burrus (a graduate of Southwestern University, Yale University and UT-Southwestern Medical School);

Margaret Rein (a graduate of Baylor University and University of Texas Law School, magna cum laude) and husband, Graeme Rein (a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Texas Graduate Business School);

Dr. Sam Kirkendall (a graduate of Texas A&M University and UT-Houston Medical School) and wife, Audra Moore Kirkendall (a graduate of Lubbock Christian University and UT-Houston School of Public Health)

and eight grandchildren.