Closing One Chapter
When I retired as the elected judge of Travis County Court at Law No. 5 at the end of 2022, I knew I was closing an important chapter of my life. I had spent nearly nineteen years on the bench. My work focused on misdemeanor criminal cases, many involving people struggling with substance use or serious mental illness.
It was meaningful work and it was demanding work.
Over time I had become deeply involved in efforts to improve how the criminal justice system responds to behavioral health challenges. I worked on treatment courts. I served on community committees. I helped advocate for the creation of the Austin Sobering Center.
By the time I stepped down, I felt proud of what had been accomplished. At the same time, I also felt something many people experience after long careers in public service.
I was tired.
I realized that I needed time to step back and think about what the next phase of my life might look like.
Taking Time to Pause
One of the best decisions I made after retirement was to give myself permission to pause. I decided that for about a year I would not rush into new commitments.
For decades my schedule had been structured around court dockets, hearings, and administrative responsibilities. Suddenly my calendar looked very different.
At first that change felt strange. Judges are used to full days and constant decision making. Without that structure, I had to learn how to slow down.
During that year I spent time reading, walking, and thinking about what kinds of work or volunteer efforts might be meaningful to me going forward.
I knew I wanted to stay engaged with the community. I simply was not sure in what way.
An Unexpected Direction
Sometimes a new direction begins in a very ordinary way.
One day I read an article in the local paper about the Austin Reuse Coalition. The article described the group’s work to reduce waste in our city and to encourage people and businesses to reuse everyday items instead of relying on disposable products.
Something about the article caught my attention.
Environmental awareness had always been part of my upbringing. My parents cared deeply about protecting the natural world. When I was growing up there was a copy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring on our bookshelf. My father was interested in solar energy long before it became common. My mother had a simple habit that I still remember. If she saw an aluminum can on the side of the road, she would pull the car over and ask me to pick it up so it could be recycled.
We were also a camping family. Many of my childhood memories involve spending time outdoors and appreciating natural landscapes.
Reading about the Austin Reuse Coalition brought those memories back.
So I sent them an email.
Joining the Effort
In the spring of 2024 I was invited to participate in the coalition’s work. I began attending meetings and learning about the many ways communities are trying to reduce waste.
One of the first projects I worked on involved encouraging coffee shops to support customers who bring reusable cups. Many people already own reusable tumblers but they forget to bring them or assume that restaurants cannot accept them.
Our campaign aimed to change that.
We contacted about 150 coffee shops across Austin and asked them to place a small sticker encouraging customers to bring their own cup. More than 100 shops agreed to participate.
I helped organize the printing of the stickers and worked with volunteers who visited shops around the city to put them up.
It was simple work but it was also satisfying. Each sticker represented a small reminder that everyday choices can reduce waste.
Learning Something New
One reason this new chapter has been rewarding is that it allowed me to learn about an issue that I had not worked on professionally before.
During my years on the bench I focused on criminal justice and behavioral health. Environmental policy was not part of my daily work.
Now I spend time reading about waste reduction, recycling systems, and the global challenge of plastic pollution. I have learned that many items we assume are recyclable actually end up in landfills. I have also learned that reuse is often far more effective than recycling.
The scale of the waste problem can feel overwhelming.
At the same time, I have been encouraged by the number of people and organizations working on solutions.
The Power of Community
One thing that connects my work in criminal justice with my current environmental efforts is the importance of community collaboration.
When we created the Austin Sobering Center, success depended on cooperation between the city council and commissioners’ court.
The same principle applies to environmental work.
Reducing waste requires cooperation between residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local government. Each group has a role to play.
For example, I worked with the Austin Public Health Department to help distribute guidance to thousands of local restaurants explaining how they can safely allow customers to use reusable containers.
Small steps like that can make it easier for businesses and customers to participate in waste reduction.
A New Kind of Advocacy
Serving as a judge taught me that meaningful change often takes patience and persistence.
Environmental advocacy requires those same qualities.
Many of the changes we hope to see will happen gradually. People adopt new habits one at a time. Businesses adjust their practices step by step.
The important thing is to keep moving forward.
For me, this new work has provided a sense of purpose that I did not fully anticipate when I retired. I am still engaged in public service, just in a different way.
Instead of presiding over a courtroom, I am helping encourage simple habits that can reduce waste and protect the environment.
Room To Grow
Retirement does not have to mean stepping away from meaningful work. Sometimes it creates the space to explore new interests and contribute in new ways.
My years on the bench were deeply rewarding. They allowed me to serve the community and work toward a more compassionate justice system.
Today I feel fortunate to continue serving the community through environmental advocacy.
The issues are different but the goal is similar.
We are trying to build a healthier and more sustainable community for everyone.