Judge Catharina Haynes left the coastal town of Melbourne, Florida and came to Dallas in 1986, looking for a place where a person could succeed or fail on her own merits. She came armed with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Juris Doctor with distinction from Emory University School of Law. She began her law career as an associate with Thompson & Knight, where she met her future husband Craig to whom she has now been married ten years. She continued her career with Baker & Botts for the next ten years as an associate and partner, where she became board certified in consumer law.

Along the way, Judge Haynes has been quite active in the legal community. She has served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Visiting Judges and as Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee, for which she received the Dallas Bar Association Jo Anna Moreland Outstanding Committee Chair Award in 1996. She has also served on other Dallas Bar Association committees and as a volunteer mediator. In 1996, she was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to its task force on juries.

These experiences prepared her for many of the issues which face judges today, but not for what life was like in the fall of 1997. During that time, she was working as a full-time partner at Baker & Botts, running as a candidate for election to the 191st Judicial District Court and building a home. Every moment of her life was scheduled. She truly enjoyed the election process, especially meeting people and touring our wonderfully diverse county. She also enjoyed, and has not forgotten, hearing the perspective of non-lawyers on the judicial system.

Since taking the bench in January 1999, a typical week for Judge Haynes consists of trials on Monday through Thursday. Her evenings during the week are typically spent preparing for the following day. She fits in non-jury cases when she can, and has even tried non-jury cases after hours. One recent non-jury trial began at 5:30 p.m., after a jury was sent home, and wrapped up around 8:45 p.m. Judge Haynes maintains a very active trial docket, having tried over twenty-four cases to jury verdict, since the beginning of the year. Fridays are reserved for Judge Haynes’ hearing docket, which often assists in bringing cases to resolution. She also finds time to enjoy her home and pool and spend time with her husband.

In managing her docket, Judge Haynes feels that the involvement of the Court in monitoring and assisting in the resolution of cases is important. Deadlines create settlement opportunities. She is prepared for hearings, having read the appropriate pleadings and motions before taking the bench, and expects attorneys to be prepared to be questioned and focus on the heart of the matter in dispute. Communication and conferences between opposing counsel are important parts of this process.

When asked, Judge Haynes had several suggestions for lawyers practicing in her Court. In drafting pleadings and motions, a very short introduction of what a case is about is helpful to the Court. Use of the available technology and physical evidence is very helpful to the Court and to juries (even simple things, often overlooked, such as diagraming an intersection in an automobile collision case).

Judge Haynes has enjoyed her first few months as a judge. She received a warm reception from her fellow judges and others in the judicial system. She has a very helpful staff and court coordinator. She truly enjoys the intellectual challenges of being a judge, and finds it very rewarding to make a difference in the lives of people who enter the courtroom of the 191st District Court, including attorneys, clients and jurors.

Fairness is Judge Haynes' top priority as a judge. She has been influenced by her experiences as a trial lawyer and the input she has received from residents of the county, other judges and attorneys. Without forgetting what it was like to be a trial lawyer, she also tries to balance the interests of other participants in the litigation process, such as jurors, and the integrity of the judicial system as a whole. Trial settings, pre-trial deadlines and expedient hearings and trials are important aspects of justice and fairness.

It looks like Judge Haynes has found a new home. Lawyers and non-lawyers should feel free to stop in and see what’s going on in the 191st District Court. You are likely to find a judge hard at work. And if you are set for trial in Judge Haynes' court, remember to be there early–she starts at 8 a.m.