In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Judge Christine Weems of the 281st District Court in Harris County, Texas for a wide-ranging conversation about law, trial work, mock trial, theater, and the unexpected path that shaped her career.
Judge Weems shares how she went from an English major at the University of Texas to South Texas College of Law, where mock trial helped her overcome a fear of public speaking and discover her love for advocacy. She talks about early trial experience, mass tort litigation, moving between Houston, Dallas, and New York, working document review while pursuing theater, and eventually returning to Texas to build a litigation career that led to the bench.
The conversation also covers what motivated her to run for judge, the importance of trial experience on the bench, and her continued work in the arts through Cone Man Running Productions, including lawyer-cast theater productions that even offer CLE credit.
Episode Highlights
Judge Weems’ unconventional path from English major to trial lawyer to district court judge
How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking and discover courtroom advocacy
Early lessons from working as a law clerk and being handed real litigation responsibility
The impact of tort reform on asbestos and silica litigation work in Texas
Her time in New York pursuing acting, theater, and entertainment work while still practicing law
Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation and rebuilding a trial-focused career
Why trial experience matters for judges and how courtroom experience shaped her decision to run
The story behind Cone Man Running Productions and its lawyer-led theater productions
How legal professionals can participate in or attend theater productions while earning CLE credit
Chapters / Major Topics
00:00 — Introduction to Judge Christine Weems
01:43 — College background, UT, English major, Spanish minor, and unusual classes
05:26 — Discovering mock trial and meeting Brett Dressler
07:02 — Growing up in Spring and the early pull toward law
07:57 — How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking
08:43 — South Texas College of Law and early work with Robert Clark
09:22 — Choosing litigation over transactional law
10:29 — First jury verdict and early trial experience
11:12 — Moving to Dallas after 9/11 and working in asbestos litigation
12:39 — Missing the courtroom and returning to plaintiff-side trial work
14:08 — Houston theater, acting, and finding a creative outlet outside law
15:12 — Going to New York for acting conservatory
16:06 — Tort reform, asbestos/silica litigation, and a shifting job market
18:51 — Document review, theater work, and extra roles on 30 Rock and Law & Order
21:57 — Meeting her husband, family life, and deciding where to practice law
22:36 — Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation
23:30 — Personal injury work, board certification, and trying cases
24:12 — Judicial discretion, courtroom experience, and what sparked the idea of running
26:17 — Why she decided to run for judge
26:48 — The 2018 judicial race and life on the bench
29:51 — Founding Cone Man Running Productions
31:07 — Lawyer-cast theater productions and CLE credit
36:18 — Promoting And Then There Were None at Spring Street Studios