Judge Bennett’s Qualifications

Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Alan Bennett as the very first judge of the 474th District Court. The Governor’s selection of Judge Bennett is the culmination of his successful 32-year legal career. During that career, Judge Bennett served with distinction as a felony and misdemeanor prosecutor in the McLennan County District Attorney’s office for 6 years. Judge Bennett served as a staff attorney with the Waco Court of Appeals for 14 years where he assisted various justices of the Court in drafting their opinions to decide the cases before that court. As staff attorney, Judge Bennett was routinely assigned research and drafting responsibilities for some of the most complex civil and criminal appeals. After leaving the Waco Court of Appeals, Judge Bennett launched a 12-year career in private practice at Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, PC where he engaged in complex civil litigation such as the West Explosion litigation. Additionally, Judge Bennett’s private practice included civil appellate law, criminal appellate law, criminal defense, and family law.

Education

Certifications

• Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• Board Certified, Criminal Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Awards & Memberships

• Arson Prosecutor of the Year, Texas Advisory Council on Arson, 1997
• State Bar of Texas
• Texas Bar Foundation
• Waco-McLennan County Bar Association
• United States District Court, Western District of Texas
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Texas Association of Appellate Court Attorneys
• State Bar Committee on Pattern Jury Charges—Criminal currently Vice-Chair
• McLennan County Republican Club
• Sponsor Board Member, McLennan County Republican Women PAC
• Federalist Society

Speaking Engagements

• “10th Court of Appeals Panel Discussion,” Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, 2019
• Appellate Practice with Chief Justice Tom Gray, Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas, Baylor Law School, 2016
• “Briefing Waiver in Criminal Appeals,” Annual Meeting of Texas Association of Appellate Court Staff Attorneys (“TAACA”), Fort Worth, 2014
• “The Ingredients for a Winning Appeal,” Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, 2014
• Appellate Roadshow, Appellate Section, State Bar of Texas, Waco, 2003
• Civil Appellate Procedure, Civil Litigation II, McLennan Community College Paralegal Program, 2001
• “Practicing Before the Tenth Court of Appeals in Criminal Cases,” McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2001
• “Panel Discussion: Working Together to Make Life Easier,” 14th Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 2000