BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

JUDGE SHERMAN A. ROSS was born November 8, 1939 in Sacramento, California and has been a Houston resident since 1950. He is married to his wife, Catherine, and has two adult children, Joi and Craig. He enjoys music, writing, and skiing.

Judge Ross attended the University of Texas, the University of Houston, and South Texas College of Law. He was licensed to practice law in September of 1966 and maintained a private practice until January, 1981 when he became judge of County Criminal Court at Law Number Ten.

Judge Ross has been recognized by the U.S. Justice Department as a proponent of victims rights and was one of only two judges from each state invited to attend intensive seminars on that subject. He was honored by the Chitaqua Society in 1993, and has been the highest rated County Criminal Court at Law Judge by the Houston Bar Association in every poll taken by that organization.

He was one of the first judges to introduce community service into Harris County and, because of the success of the program, it is now mandatory statewide. Judge Ross has accepted sole responsibility for all fugitive cases filed in Harris County and, in the last few years, he has sent thousands of fugitives, apprehended in Harris County, back to requesting states for prosecution.

He participated with Judge Michael McSpadden to present the criminal law program which received the highest ratings of all Continuing Legal Education programs within "Saturday Morning in Court."

As a Judicial educator, Judge Ross has served numerous times as a faculty member for The Texas Center for the Judiciary, the Texas Municipal Courts Training Center, and has just completed his second two year term on the Judicial Ethics Committee for the State of Texas. He has authored a number of articles for various Bar Journals and legal publications and has spoken to numerous groups concerning "professionalism", "community sentencing", and "victims rights."

He has chaired a number of committees including the Judicial Liaison Committee to The Supreme Court of Texas and The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. He was also named "Committee Chairman of the Year" by the Houston Bar Association during his private practice years.

Extending his service into the community, Judge Ross has been recognized by the Governor's Volunteer Leadership Conference for his contribution to the development of volunteer leaders, by the Depelchin Children's Center for his service and support in behalf of the children, and the Urban Mentors, a program helping to direct "at-risk" juveniles.

He has served or is currently serving as a Board Member of such organizations as the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Community Service Options Program, Stages Repertory Theater, and Interfaith Ministries.

His past and present affiliations include the American Correctional Association, the American Probation and Parole Association, the Houston Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Tax Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, The American Judicature Society, the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and The Texas Trial Lawyers Association.