Ralph Kolb Burgess

Ralph K. Burgess has an extremely diverse resume' during his 32 years of practice that uniquely qualifies him to serve as appellate counsel in state and federal civil and criminal cases, trial counsel in complex civil litigation matters, and as a mediator in civil and family law cases.

Mr. Burgess returned to the practice of law in February 2022 after having served nineteen years as a Judge for the State of Texas. Mr. Burgess was Justice of Texas' 6th District Court of Appeals for seven years, and prior to that, was Judge of Texas' 5th District Court for twelve years. As Appellate Justice and District Judge, Mr. Burgess handled complex civil cases of all types, felony criminal cases, and family law cases. Prior to his tenure as a judge, Mr. Burgess spent thirteen years practicing law in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. He is board certified in civil trial law (1998) and personal injury trial law (1997) by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has completed the A.A. White Mediation Training Course at the University of Houston twice, in 1997 and 2021. During his career as an appellate attorney, he presented and argued cases before the Fifth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas Court of Appeals. During his career as a Justice on the Court of Appeals, he authored more than 300 published opinions. During his career, both as trial attorney and judge, Mr. Burgess tried more than 200 jury trials to verdict in state and federal court including three state and federal death penalty cases.

Mr. Burgess is licensed to practice law in all trial and appellate courts in Texas and Arkansas, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and the Eastern/Western District of Arkansas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eighth Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Burgess received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Texas Christian University, magna cum laude, in 1987 and his Juris Doctor Degree from the Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1990, where he served as an Assistant Editor on the UALR Law Journal. He will practice primarily as appellate counsel in state in federal civil and criminal cases, trial counsel in state and federal court litigation, and serve as a mediator in civil and family law cases.

Certified Legal Specialties
Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1998
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1997

Past Positions
Texas 6th District Court of Appeals, Justice, 01/2015 to 01/2022
Texas 5th District Court, Judge, 02/2003 to 12/2014