BOARD: The Hon. Angela Graves-Harrington

Judge Angela Graves-Harrington serves as the first African-American Administrative Judge of the Harris County Board of Family District Judges. She also presides over the Harris County 246th Family District Court as the first woman and second African American person ever elected to that bench. Judge Graves-Harrington is Board Certified® in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a designation awarded to less than .1% of Texas attorneys.

Aligned with her mission of developing a pipeline of well-trained and compassionate child welfare attorneys, Judge Graves-Harrington created the Child Welfare Externship at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where students learn to advocate for children and families involved in the child welfare system through classroom instruction and courtroom training. The Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission also selected her to preside over a Trauma-Informed Pilot Court and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) to participate in the NCJFCJ Implementation Sites Project.

Judge Graves-Harrington consistently strives to transform the Harris County child welfare courts into trauma-informed courts by working closely with the families, ensuring their physical and emotional needs are met. She is committed to ensuring that every parent receives the support they need to navigate the child welfare system while remaining focused on the ultimate goal of positive permanency for every child in every case.

In recognition of her commitment to families, Judge Graves-Harrington received the 2023 Texas CASA Judicial Leadership and Innovation Award. Additionally, in honor of Angela’s dedication to protecting children and preserving families, US Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee declared November 19, 2021, “Judge Angela Graves-Harrington Day.”

Judge Graves-Harrington is active in both her local and state bars through service on various committees. In 2020, the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission appointed Judge Graves-Harrington to serve on the Training Committee. She was also appointed co-chair of the Child Welfare and Juvenile Advisory Committee of the NCJFCJ. Additionally, Judge Graves-Harrington is a team leader for the Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court, a member of the Houston Area Local Advisory Group for the Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP), an advisory member of Safe Babies, a First 3 Years® initiative, and a faculty member for the Judicial Academy on Reasonable Efforts through the Capacity Building Center for Courts. Judge Graves-Harrington was appointed co-chair of the Houston Bar Association Family/Probate Bench Bar committee and received the HBA President’s Award for organizing the first family/probate bench bar conference in 19 years. Finally, when not in court or the classroom, Judge Graves-Harrington shares her knowledge with the legal and child welfare community through speaking engagements and seminars.

In addition to service in legal organizations, Judge Graves-Harrington serves her community as a twenty-two year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, and as the Strategic Planning Committee Chair for Jack and Jill, Incorporated®, Greater Channel Chapter. She is also one of the founders of Houston PEARLS and EAGLES, a mentorship program that supports teens ages 14-18 in the foster care system by providing a support system that teaches life skills and prepares them for adulthood.

Judge Graves-Harrington is a native of Gulfport (Turkey Creek), Mississippi, and a proud alumna of Mississippi State University, Jackson State University, and Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She and her husband, Darryl, live in Houston with their two handsome sons, Daylen and Aiden, and their rambunctious Goldendoodle, Teddy.