Terry Gardner

Terry was raised in Austin and attended the University of Texas for both his undergraduate and law degrees. He was elected in his first year of law school to Phi Delta Phi, the honorary legal fraternity. Upon his graduation from law school, he was chosen as one of nine briefing attorneys for the Supreme Court of Texas. Following his clerkship, he joined a prominent Fort Worth law firm and became a partner in five years. He learned to try cases at that firm and was an understudy to a distinguished trial lawyer, trying all types of civil cases. After ten years with that firm, he and another young partner formed their own firm and quickly began trying civil cases, usually referrals from other lawyers or judges. Terry has had his own firm for many years. He has tried almost every conceivable type of civil case.

Terry has been active in the legal and civic communities and has been elected as president of his bar association. He has been elected to boards, associations and foundations and continues to be active on them. In 2008, Terry received the Tarrant County Bar Association’s prestigious Blackstone Award “for exemplifying the highest attributes of the legal profession—consistent ability, integrity and courage as a lawyer.” You can watch Terry’s acceptance speech here.

In 2014, Terry received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, an award given to a lawyer “who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to mentoring young lawyers in his or her legal community.”

Terry is married to Anne, a former justice on the Court of Appeals. They have one son, Travis, who lives in Austin with his wife. Terry particularly enjoys mentoring young lawyers and for many years has been a volunteer to assist lawyers and judges suffering from alcohol and/or drug abuse. He is an avid but sometimes frustrated golfer.

Experience

Briefing Attorney, Supreme Court of Texas (1966-1967)
Private Practice since 1967
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law (1978-2014)
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law (1988-2014)

Memberships & Affiliations

State Bar of Texas
Committees: Administration of Justice (the “Rules” Committee); Federal Judiciary Appointments; Selection, Compensation & Tenure of State Judges; Grievance
Committee for District 7A
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference, Host Committee (1996)
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Advisory Panel to U.S. District Court (1992 – 1993)
Non-Appropriated Funds Committee (1993 – 2006)

Professional & Educational Associations

American Board of Trial Advocates (1984-present)
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Master Emeritus & Founding Member
The Honorary Sergeants’ Inn of the Dallas-Fort Worth Inns of Court (Elected 2004-2005)
Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
Tarrant County Bar Association (President 1991-1992)
Tarrant County Family Bar Association
Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Charter Member
College of the State Bar of Texas
United States Supreme Court Historical Society (1995-present)
Supreme Court of Texas Historical Society (1998-present)

Honors

Blackstone Award Recipient, 2008
Outstanding Mentor Award, 2014
Included in “Best Lawyers” (2010-present), “Super Lawyers” (2003-present),
“Distinguished Lawyers” (2000-present) “Power Attorneys” (2015), and
“Pre-eminent Lawyers” (2000-present) in various national, state,
and local publications.
Speaker and Panelist for Texas Wesleyan University’s pre-med, pre-law, and pre-ministerial society programs

Education

University of Texas, Austin, TX, 1962 B.A.
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, 1966 L.L.B.
Graduated with Honors
Phi Delta Phi Honorary legal fraternity