Hon. Judge Stephen B. Ables

Kerrville, TX

Judge Ables is a Kerrville resident who loves to take part in Tivy Football as the Public Address Announcer. Is an avid Golfer, in which he met and played with Tiger Woods. He also enjoys music, reading and teaching.

Judge Ables is married to Lynda Flenniken Ables who is a Director of Choral Music at the First United Methodist Church in Kerrville. He also has three wonderful children. David, a Harvard graduate who is currently a Partner in an engineering firm. Matthew, a Baylor University graduate who is currently a Hydrogeologist and President of Kisters Corp. North America. Mollie, a Baylor University graduate with a Masters at UT and a PhD at University of Indiana, she is a professor at Wabash University.

Non-Subscriber Experience

Judge Ables is an arbiter for the Independent Resolution team performing arbitration services for medical pay disputes referred to the Texas Department of Insurance.

Education  +-

  • Ennis High School, Texas
    1967
  • United States Military Academy
    1967 - 1968
  • Baylor University
    English Literature
    1968 - 1971
  • Baylor Law School
    1973
  • Licensed to Practice Law
    1973

Experience  +-

  • 216th District Court of Texas
    Retired Judge ( Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie & Bandera )
    2001
  • 6th Judicial Administrative Region of Texas
    Presiding Judge ( 24 Counties )
  • Appointed by Governor Bush
    1995
  • Re-appointed by Governor Bush
    2003, 2005, 2009, 2014
  • Regional Judges of Texas
    Chairman
    2009 to Present
  • Texas Judiciary
    Elected Chairman
    2002 to 2003
  • Texas College for New Judges
    Dean
    2001 to 2012
  • Texas Center for the Judiciary
    Chairman
    2002 to 2003
  • Texas Judicial Ethics Committee
    Chairman
    2004 to 2007
  • Appointed to Texas Supreme Court by Governor Bush to sit for Justice Enoch who was recused from a specific case
    1996
  • Appointed to Texas Judicial Council by Governor Bush
    1995 to 1997
  • Appointed to Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care by Chief Justice Phillips
    1998
  • Appointed to Attorney General's Child Support Advisory Work Group by Attorney General Cornyn
    2000
  • Appointed by Governor Bush as Presiding Judge of the Sixth Administration Judicial Region
    1995, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014
  • Appointed to Court of Criminal Appeals Education Committee by Chief Justice Keller
    2001
  • Texas Association Court Administrators
    Former Advisory Director
  • Judiciary Curriculum Committee
    Former Chairman
  • University of Memphis Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education
    Faculty member and lecturer
  • Judicial Workplace Arbitrations
    Mediator and Arbitrator
    Present
  • Former Assistant County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney
  • Wallace, Jackson, Ables & Machann
    Partner
    1979 - 1989
  • Kerr County Bar Association
    President
    1979 to 1980
  • Schreiner College
    Instructor of Criminal Law and Procedure
    1976 to 1980
  • State Bar Grievance Committee
    Prosecutor
    1976 to 1977
  • Kerr County Police Academy
    Constitutional Law Lecturer
  • Judicial Education Programs and State Bar Programs
    Lecturer and Panel Member
  • State bar of Texas
    Elected Fellow
    2001

Memberships/Affiliations  +-

  • First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, TX
    Member
  • Senior Adult Sunday School
    Teacher
    1983 - Present
  • Administrative Board
    Chairman
    1986 - 1987
  • Board of Trustees
    Chairman
    1990 - 1991
  • First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, TX
    Lay Leader
    1990 - 2000
  • Bishop's Committee of the Episcopacy
    Appointed
    2000
  • Emmaus Pilgrim walk 108
  • Emmaus
    Lay Leader
    1999
  • Hill Country Crisis Shelter for Battered Women
    President & Founding Director
    1987 - 1988
  • Hill Country Youth Ranch
    Advisory Director
  • Cailloux Family Charitable Foundation
    Director
  • Kerrville Tivy high School Mock Trial Team
    Attorney Coach
  • "Partners in Ministry"
    Former Director
  • Young Men's Business League
    Advisory Director
  • Youth Baseball, Basketball and Soccer
    Former Coach
  • Cowboy Camp Meeting Association
    Past President & Director
  • Kerrville Philosophers Club
    Founding Member
  • Hill Country Arts Foundation
    Past Board of Directors
  • Hill Country Beginners Symphony Orchestra
    Member

Honors/Awards  +-

  • Selected Outstanding Criminal Judge in the State of Texas by the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas for the year
     
    2001, 2005
  • Along with Wife, named Kerrville Citizens of the Year
     
    2002
  • Named Outstanding Young Alumnus of Baylor University
     
    1989
  • Along with Spouse, selected as Baylor University Outstanding Parents of the Year
     
    1999 - 2000
  • Masonic Lodge Community Builder Award
     
    1992
  • American Legion Community Service Award
     
    1993
  • Sons of the American Revolution Outstanding Citizen Award
     
    2001, 2005

Seminar/Speaking/Authoring  +-

Authoring

  • Columnist for Kerrville Daily Times

  • Author of the Book "Teeing Up the Day"

Stephen Ables