by J. Stephen Barrick, Hicks Thomas, LLP

On January 1, Jim Sharp was officially sworn in as the newest justice of the First Court of Appeals, succeeding Justice Sam Nuchia to Place 3 on the court. Justice Sharp’s investiture was held in the Gerald Treece Courtroom at South Texas College of Law on February 12, where he was formally sworn in by former Governor Mark White.

Originally from Dallas, Justice Sharp received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in English and Government, and received his J.D. in 1988 from South Texas College of Law. While a student at U.T., Justice Sharp attended college part time so he could work full time as a bill clerk and legislative aide in the Texas Legislature. After graduating from college, Justice Sharp worked for a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C., helping implement political campaigns, and worked in public relations for an insurance company in New Mexico and Massachusetts.

Justice Sharp joins the appellate bench after 19 years in solo practice, where he represented individuals and small businesses in probate, juvenile, family law, criminal, and civil district courts across the state. Justice Sharp also appeared in appellate courts in Houston and San Antonio, and in the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.