Collaborative Council
The work of JCMH requires the sustained collaboration of dedicated individuals who are committed to creating a legal system that better serves individuals with mental health challenges. The Collaborative Council is composed of interested stakeholders and advocates from across Texas to inform the JCMH on important matters when considering projects and policy.
- Hon. Laura Barker
Judge, Williamson County Court No. 2 - Kelsey Bernstein
Legislative Consultant – JPCA, Texas Association of Counties - Hon. Elizabeth Berry
First Assistant Public Defender, Concho Valley Public Defender’s Office - Catherine Bialick
Director of Behavioral Health and Justice Initiatives, Office of Forensic Coordination, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Alison Mohr Boleware
Director of Policy, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health - Timothy Bray
Vice President for Justice and Health Policy, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute - Hon. Clifford A. Brown
Judge, 147th Criminal District Court - Dr. Virginia A. Brown
Research Scholar in Social Justice and Population Health, The Hastings Center - Hon. Sarah Bruchmiller
Judge, 368th District Court - Sonja Burns
Mental Health Advocate - Angel Carroll
Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships, MEASURE - Hon. Jennifer Cates
Judge, Canyon Municipal Court - Hon. Brad Clark
Judge, Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 5 - Armando Colombo
President and CEO, The Menninger Clinic - Hon. Marla Cuellar
Judge, 275th District Court - Leah Davies
Cause Programs Director, CLEAN Cause Foundation - Colleen Davis
First Assistant County Attorney, Burnet County Attorney’s Office - Hon. Karen Diaz
Justice of the Peace, San Patricio County Precinct No. 4 - Sergeant Shawn Edwards
Training Coordinator, Crisis Intervention Unit #920, Burleson County Sheriff's Office - Lesli R. Fitzpatrick
Director of Special Litigation, Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Hon. Neal Franklin
County Judge, Smith County - Gilbert Gonzales
Director, Bexar County Department of Behavioral and Mental Health - Krishnaveni Gundu
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Texas Jail Project - Rachel Hampton
Chief Mission Officer, Lone Star Justice Alliance - Greg Hansch
Executive Director, NAMI Texas - Hon. James Henderson
Judge, Grayson County Court of Law No. 1 - Angelita Hunter
Victim Advocate, Grayson Crisis Center - Lee Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, Texas Council of Community Centers, Inc. - Windy Johnson
Program Manager, Texas Conference of Urban Counties - Hon. Raquel “Rocky” Jones
Judge, 203rd District Court - Louise Joy
Attorney, Joy & Young, L.L.P. - Hon. Evelyn Keyes (Ret.)
Former Justice, First Court of Appeals - Sgt. Michael Krogmann
Crisis Intervention Team Sergeant, Round Rock Police Department - Hon. Kirsten Legore
Judge, Guadalupe County Court at Law No. 2 - Dr. Scott LePor
Medical Director, Texas Juvenile Justice Department - Katrina LeVert
Assistant County Attorney, Fort Bend County Attorney’s Office - Yolanda Lewis
Executive Vice President for Justice and Health, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute - Hon. Lora J. Livingston
Interim Executive Director, Texas Access to Justice Commission - Christopher C. Lopez
Assistant General Counsel, State Hospital, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Dr. Charles Mathias
Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio - Hon. Lela Mays
Judge, 283rd District Court - Rosie Medina
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department - Kristin Meeks
Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Indigent Defense Commission - Joanna Mendez
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin - Tpr. Bianca Morales
Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety - Officer Brittany Moreno
Mental Health Officer, Sugar Land Police Department - Jennifer Mudge
Public Policy Coordinator, Texas Council on Family Violence - Hon. Kirk D. Noaker, Sr.
Consultant, National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices - Hon. Rita Noel
Student Support Services, Denison Independent School District - Dr. Evan Norton
Senior Director of Integrated Treatment and Support, Texas Juvenile Justice Department - Lemuel Odom
Clinical Supervisor-Psychological & Social Services, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department - Dr. Susan Palacios
Manager of Community Interventions and Supports, Texas Juvenile Justice Department - John Petrila
Senior Policy Advisor, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute - Hon. Daphne Previti Austin
Attorney, Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, P.C. - Officer Terry Qualls
Crisis Intervention Coordinator, McKinney Police Department - Janis Reinken
Former Chief Clerk, House Committee on Corrections - Chris Ritter
Chief Legal Counsel, State Bar of Texas - Trish Rivera
Rural Health Specialist, Texas Department of Agriculture - Michelle Romero
Associate Director, Texas Medical Association - Simone Salloum
Policy Attorney, Texas HHSC - Rachel Samsel
Deputy Associate Commissioner for Regional & Local Operations, Texas Department of State Health Services - Melissa Schank
Executive Director, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association - Jonas Schwartz
Program Manager, Texas Workforce Commission - Melissa Shearer
Director, Travis County Mental Health Public Defender's Office - Dr. Jennie Simpson
Associate Commissioner and State Forensic Director, Office of Forensic Coordination, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Hon. Mike Smith
Judge, 35th District Court, Brown County - Dr. Sandra Smith
Vice President, Via Hope - Lt. Scott Soland
Patrol Lieutenant, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office - Hon. Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez
Judge, Bexar County Court at Law #13 - Hon. Nancy Tanner
County Judge, Potter County - Gloria Terry
Chief Executive Officer, Texas Council on Family Violence - Jennifer Toon
Mental Health Peer Policy Fellow, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities - Haley Turner
Deputy Executive Commissioner of Community Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Hon. Ryan Kellus Turner
Executive Director, Texas Municipal Court Education Center - Hon. Brian Keith Umphress
Jack County Judge - Sally Uncapher
Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office - Nicole Weaver
YES Waiver Manager, Mental Health and Substance Use Programs, Texas HHSC - Thea Whalen
Executive Director, Texas Justice Courts Training Center - Hon. Deborah Wigington
Judge, Comal County Court at Law #3 - Hon. Angela Williams
Justice of the Peace, Williamson County Precinct No. 2 - Thomas Wilson
Assistant District Attorney, Civil Division, Smith County District Attorney's Office - Thomas “Jay” Wooten
Chief Public Defender, Galveston County Misdemeanor Mental Health Public Defender’s Office
Membership as of January 2024.