Substance Use Disorder

The Substance Use Disorder Committee, chaired by Judge Roxanne Nelson, focuses on improving understanding of SUD as a mental health condition and the administration of justice in those cases.

Committee members:

• Hon. Roxanne Nelson, Chair
  Burnet County Precinct 1
  
• Alyssa Aldrich
  Executive Director, Adapt Community Solutions
• Hon. Devon Anderson
  President and CEO, Justice Forward
• Melinda Heath Brents
  Senior Assistant County Attorney, Harris County Attorney's Office
• Sonja Burns
  Mental Health Advocate
  
• Leah Davies
  Cause Programs Director, CLEAN Cause Foundation
  
• Hon. Karen Diaz
  Justice of the Peace, San Patricio County Precinct No. 4
  
• Hon. Drue Farmer
  Board Chair, StarCare Lubbock
  
• Lesli Fitzpatrick
  Director of Special Litigation, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
  
• Dr. Brad Fitzwater
  Substance Use Medical Director, Texas Health & Human Services Commission
  
• Krystal Griffin
  Counselor, Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department
• Michelle Hallee
  Assistant Director of the Special Victims Division, Travis County District Attorney's Office
  
• Jack Housworth
  Director of Substance Abuse Services, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
  
• Hon. Martha Huerta
  Fmr. Judge, Nueces County
• Hon. Echo Hutson
  Judge, Montgomery County Court at Law No. 4
  
• Hon. Oscar Kazen
  Judge, Bexar County Probate Court No. 1
  
• Hon. Kirsten Legore
  Judge, Guadalupe County Court at Law No. 2
• Hon. Pam Liston
  Senior Attorney, Messer Fort, PLLC
• Ofc. Brittany Moreno
  Mental Health Officer, Sugar Land Police Department
  
• Hon. Rita Noel
  Student Support Services, Denison Independent School District
  
• Hon. Larry Phillips
  Judge, 59th District Court
• Lee Pierson
  Mental Health Division Chief, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
  
• Catherine Richardson
  Licensed Professional Counselor
• Jason Steans
  Mental Health & Specialty Courts Director, Williamson County
  
• Eric Smith
  Founder and Owner, Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC
  
• Matt Smith
  Director of Statewide Youth Services Continuum, TJJD
  
• Ivonne Tapia
  Chief Executive Officer, Aliviance
• Wayne Young
  Chief Executive Officer, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
  
• Kyle Walker
  Legal Systems Manager, Austin Echo
• Hon. Deborah Wigington
  Judge, Comal County Court at Law #3
  

Updated November 2025