• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Hispanic News || Shirley Ann Flower Shop || RS Deer Ranch
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
Home Community

Judge Elaine Marshall shares words of wisdom, messages of hope

aframnews by aframnews
4 months ago
in Community, Local
0
76
SHARES
1.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

By: N.L. Preston

You might also like

National Black United Front Convention Reception

NBUF Spiritual Ceremony

 

HOUSTON — “Never let anyone steal your peace, and never let anyone take your peace and turn it into pieces,” is the advice Judge Elaine Marshall‘s aunt once gave her. Today, with the city of Houston filled with panicked residents – some cautiously locked away in their homes while others disregard health warnings – those words of wisdom seem to be a message that needs sharing.

“I think that is what is happening now. We are getting away from knowing who really sustains us, and so all of this is taking our inner peace and turning us into pieces,” she said.

Marshall may be on to something.

The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has many of us on edge. But ultimately, it begins with each individual and their mindset and, more so, how they stand in the face of adversity; something Marshall will not let slow her down.

She spoke candidly with African-American News&Issues about her upbringing, her career and life’s highlights, opening up first about the fear she felt as a young adult preparing to head off to the University of Notre Dame, where there weren’t many who looked like her, in addition to it being her first time away from her family.

“My grandmother looked me in the face and said ‘What you are is God’s gift to you and what you make of yourself is your gift to God, and so when you go up there, you learn everything you can so you can give God his greatest gift,'” Marshall recalled.

That loving statement carried her through, and Marshall went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame in Psychology, followed by a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas.

She moved to Houston in the 1980’s, and has a loving husband, Stephen Augustine, a daughter, Janikka, and two stepchildren, Takia and Steven.

Marshall’s career is something many would marvel at. The ‘military baby’ who grew up in San Antonio has served the City of Houston since 1987, first as a full-time judge, then as an administrative judge, and next as an associate presiding judge. A career highlight for Marshall is her revision of the Teen Court Program, which when started had only 15 members, but over time grew to nearly 100 participating students. Marshall was also an assistant district attorney for Harris County for eight years and assisted in developing the office’s child abuse section.

On December 7, 2016, Marshall was appointed to serve as director and presiding judge for the Municipal Courts Department by Mayor Sylvester Turner.

As a judge, two things have brought her extra joy. One in particular was seeing the recent historic appointment of social media’s “Black Girl Magic’ judges, also known as the “Houston 19.”

“I am all for us being visible as women and was excited to see everybody get out and vote,” she said, adding this advice. “Now that you’re on the bench, you need to show them what you can do. For us, as black women, we have to take that step a little bit further because everybody is going to question what we know, so we have to stay on top of our game.”

Marshall was also an adjunct professor for seven years at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

“That was remarkable. For me, teaching was my way of giving back,” she said.

Now for the top of her list, her greatest joy professionally had a personal touch. It was the day she hooded and swore in her daughter. Janikka Bratton is currently a senior associate attorney at Kubosh Law.

Marshall said she hopes the values that have been lovingly poured into her, she adequately passes along to others.

“I want to instill them in my children, my students and I hope I instill them in my staff and employees because I’m walking right beside them,” she said. “Every day I want them to know that, He [God] may have opened a different door for me than for others, but it still doesn’t make me any better. We are all in this together.”

 

Tags: City of Houston
Share30Tweet19
aframnews

aframnews

Recommended For You

National Black United Front Convention Reception

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
July 6, 2022
0
National Black United Front Convention Reception

Join the 43rd National Convention Reception. Click on the flyer for more information.

Read more

NBUF Spiritual Ceremony

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
July 6, 2022
0
NBUF Spiritual Ceremony

Join NBUF for their 43rd National Convention.

Read more

by aframnews
July 5, 2022
0

HOUSTON-Many have been waiting for the response about the deputy who had an encounter with several cyclists. Constable Rosen made the remarks, "Today, I was made aware of...

Read more

FBISD Board passes resolution supporting Administration’s decision to offer one-time retention and recruitment payments for designated safety, security, health positions

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
July 4, 2022
0

Fort Bend ISD – The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees has passed a resolution in support of the Administration’s decision to offer one-time retention and recruitment payments to current...

Read more

How Long Is Too Long?

by aframnews
July 3, 2022
0
How Long Is Too Long?

By: Travis McGee How long is too long for any community to be neglected for as long as ours? And when I say “ours,” I mean “We The...

Read more
Next Post

Legendary Houston HIV/AIDS activist Barbara Joseph dies at 73

Latest Articles

National Black United Front Convention Reception

National Black United Front Convention Reception

July 6, 2022
NBUF Spiritual Ceremony

NBUF Spiritual Ceremony

July 6, 2022
More than 1,000 Black Women Leaders Call on Biden Administration to Step Up Efforts to Free Brittney Griner

More than 1,000 Black Women Leaders Call on Biden Administration to Step Up Efforts to Free Brittney Griner

July 6, 2022

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Hispanic News
  • Shirley Ann’s Flower Shop
  • RS Deer Ranch
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Afram TV
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?