“Meeting the Moment: The State of Public Interest Lawyering”
Chief Draper will discuss the significant strides made in expanding access to justice for all Texans, and why current students should be hopeful about the state of public interest lawyering. She will highlight the career decisions that defied traditional paths and advanced her vision for systemic change, including stepping away from the Harris County Criminal Court to lead the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and moving from federal to state public defense. Finally, she will offer her perspective on the sea change in the public interest landscape over the course of her career and offer guidance for navigating its ongoing ebbs and flows.
After the talk, Chief Draper will be available to meet informally with students over lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Jury Room (CCJ 2.310).
About the speaker:
Genesis E. Draper is the Chief Public Defender for the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, where she leads one of the largest public defense systems in the country, ensuring high-quality, client-centered representation for people facing criminal charges who cannot afford counsel. A deeply respected legal advocate and judicial leader, Draper brings over 18 years of experience as a public defender, trial lawyer, professor, and judge to her role.
Prior to her appointment as Chief Public Defender, Draper served with distinction as the elected Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. During her tenure, she helped revise Harris County’s indigent defense plan, advocated for greater fairness in misdemeanor courts, and served a term as Administrative Judge, guiding countywide policy and operations for the criminal courts.
Before becoming a judge, Draper worked as an Assistant Public Defender in both state and federal systems, including the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Texas.
In addition to her public defense work, Draper has shaped the next generation of trial lawyers as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center since 2018, teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy and mentoring students in trial strategy and courtroom skills.
Draper holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College. She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Tennessee. A proud Spelman alumna and committed community leader, Draper lives in Houston with her family and remains passionately dedicated to equity, justice, and the power of zealous advocacy.
\n\nIf you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the event sponsor or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:“Meeting the Moment: The State of Public Interest Lawyering”
Chief Draper will discuss the significant strides made in expanding access to justice for all Texans, and why current students should be hopeful about the state of public interest lawyering. She will highlight the career decisions that defied traditional paths and advanced her vision for systemic change, including stepping away from the Harris County Criminal Court to lead the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and moving from federal to state public defense. Finally, she will offer her perspective on the sea change in the public interest landscape over the course of her career and offer guidance for navigating its ongoing ebbs and flows.
After the talk, Chief Draper will be available to meet informally with students over lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Jury Room (CCJ 2.310).
About the speaker:
Genesis E. Draper is the Chief Public Defender for the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, where she leads one of the largest public defense systems in the country, ensuring high-quality, client-centered representation for people facing criminal charges who cannot afford counsel. A deeply respected legal advocate and judicial leader, Draper brings over 18 years of experience as a public defender, trial lawyer, professor, and judge to her role.
Prior to her appointment as Chief Public Defender, Draper served with distinction as the elected Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. During her tenure, she helped revise Harris County’s indigent defense plan, advocated for greater fairness in misdemeanor courts, and served a term as Administrative Judge, guiding countywide policy and operations for the criminal courts.
Before becoming a judge, Draper worked as an Assistant Public Defender in both state and federal systems, including the Harris County Public Defender’s Office and the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Texas.
In addition to her public defense work, Draper has shaped the next generation of trial lawyers as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center since 2018, teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy and mentoring students in trial strategy and courtroom skills.
Draper holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College. She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Tennessee. A proud Spelman alumna and committed community leader, Draper lives in Houston with her family and remains passionately dedicated to equity, justice, and the power of zealous advocacy.
If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the event event sponsor or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event.
LOCATION:TNH 2.139 URL:http://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/02/03/85076/ CLASS:PUBLIC STATUS:CONFIRMED END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR