Leslie Brock Yates was first elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 1994; she was the first elected female justice to sit on the court. As an appellate judge, Leslie has authored over 1,000 opinions. Leslie has been voted Appellate Judge of the Year by local law enforcement organizations, the POLICE and Houston Police Officers Union. Prior to being elected to the bench, Leslie was an experienced trial attorney. She was a general attorney for Union Pacific Railroad, where she handled all facets of personal injury defense litigation. Leslie also served as Assistant District Attorney with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She rose quickly through the ranks serving as a Chief Prosecutor in both misdemeanor and felony courts. Later she was selected to aid in the establishment of the “gang task force”. While at the District Attorney’s Office, Leslie worked in both the trial and appellate sections, and was involved in over 100 jury trials.
Leslie’s educational background includes a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. She has been active in the Houston bar, from Council Member of the Appellate Practice Section, to Committee Member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, and a Member of the Criminal Law and Procedure Section. In addition, Leslie served on the Editorial Board for The Houston Lawyer.
Leslie currently resides in Houston with her husband, Terry, and sons Brock and Ryan.
Updated: 17-Aug-2009
