Former Presiding Judge of the 245th District Court
Tristan Harris Longino
Background
Tristan was born in Washington D.C., grew up in New Jersey, and did a lot of other things that relate to growing up and becoming who he is today. We'll skip a few decades to more recent doings to give you a better idea of who he is, what we're about, and how our unique background can help with your issues.
Judicial Experience
Tristan served as the presiding judge of the 245th Family District Court in Harris County, Texas, from 2019 until 2022. As judge he heard and ruled on countless final trials, temporary orders, discovery disputes, and other matters involving everything from from complex marital estates with international scope to custody disputes. During his term, he took one of the largest family court caseloads and turned it into one of the smallest. The Houston Bar Association ranked him among the top family court judges in its 2021 judicial evaluation.
Legal Practice
Before taking the bench in 2019, Tristan practiced exclusively family law. He was Board Certified in Family Law in 2017 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a qualification held by a very small fraction of attorneys in the state. He had a reputation among his clients of diligence, quality, and ethics, always putting their best interest first. You can see this in the testimonials on our front page.
Legal Education
Tristan graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 2011. He took an interest in family law in his first year of law school and took many courses with that practice area in mind. For example, clerked for the Honorable Robert Hinojosa of the 312th Family District Court and obtained the following mediation certifications during his law school career:
- Certified in mediation by A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center June 7, 2009
- Certified in advanced family mediation by Blakely Advocacy Institute February 20, 2011
Finance Background
Before attending law school, Tristan graduated from the University of Richmond with a Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance. He then obtained his NASD Series 7 and 66 licenses and worked for Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor after graduation.
What does this mean for you?
He's experienced. Tristan handled more family law cases just during his four years on the bench than many attorney will handle in their lifetime. For example, he presided over nine jury trials during his tenure; many attorneys haven't had one. He also has a background in finance, understanding more complex issues like restricted stock units, options contracts, closely held business valuations, and trusts.
He's seen "behind the curtain." He knows intricately how courts operate (having run one), so he knows how to navigate the odd situation where a strange procedural issue or court policy is causing difficulty.
He's well regarded. Tristan is known and respected by the family bar and was a colleague of most of the current family court judges. For example, he was selected for the 2019 Texas Rising Stars by Super Lawyers (based on peer recommendations), but was unable to accept the acknowledgement as he would be taking the bench that year. Having a solid reputation for integrity and legal expertise means others know positions he takes are supported by the facts of his case and applicable law.
He's savvy. Tristan can leverage technology to increase efficiency and decrease costs and human error.
Publications & Speeches
- Intersection of Immigration and Family Law (SBOT 20th Annual Texas Minority Attorney Program 2023)
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (GCFLS 2022)
- Overcoming Family Law Presumptions (HBA 2022)
- Preparing for Temporary Orders in a Pro Bono Family Case (Houston Volunteer’s Lawyer Program 2022)
- Home or Away Game? Jurisdiction and Venue Issues (Advanced Family Law 2022)
- Forensic Custody, Psychiatric, & Psychological Evaluations (GCFLS 2021)
- Texas Day of Civility in the Law (HBA Professionalism Committee 2021)
- Whose Jurisdiction Is It Anyway? A Discussion on Long Arm Jurisdiction, Subject Matter Jurisdiction and the UCCJEA (HBA 2020)
- Case Assessment from Intake to Mediation (HBA 2020)
- Zoom, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Have Remote Hearings (HBA 2020)
- Judges Panel (HVLP’s Annual Family Law Seminar 2019)
- Judges Panel (University of Houston Law Center & Family Lawyers of Texas, 2019)
- Taking Care of Business: Entities, Divorce and Claims Outside the Family Code (GCFLS 2019)
- What You Need to Know About Experts and Arbitration (HBA 2019)
- Navigating Tort Matters in Your Family Law Case (HBA 2014)
- Your First Year as an Attorney (HBA 2014)
- Fiduciary Litigation: Duties and Obligations between Parent, Child, and Third Parties, (SBOT Fiduciary Litigation Seminar 2011)
- Fiduciary Litigation (author - presented at the SBOT Advanced Family Law Course, 2011)
- Dealing with Damages: Recoveries as Property (author - presented at the SBOT’s 34th Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute 2011)
Current Memberships & Positions
- Houston Bar Association Family Law Section Board of Directors
- Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
- Member of Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member of Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
- Master and President-Elect of Burta Rhoads Raborn Family Law Inn of Court
- Member of the Texas and Houston Bar Associations Family Law Sections
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