EXPERIENCE

“When you examine the record, you will find that during my entire career, my goal has always been to serve people, not just by doing my job on the bench, but by going above and beyond to find innovative solutions to the problems facing people, families and the community.  This court belongs to you, the people, and I have had the honor of serving as your judge for over 16 years.  I ask for your support so that I may continue this work to make Dallas a better, safer place to live and work.”   - Judge John Creuzot

:: BIOGRAPHY
:: RESUME

JUDGE JOHN CREUZOT BIOGRAPHY

Judge John Creuzot, presiding judge of Dallas County's Criminal District Court No. 4, guided the DIVERT court through inception and its initial growing pains. He was named as a 'Pioneer Judge' by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals in June, 2000, for his contributions to the drug treatment court field and is in the Drug Court Hall of Fame.  In June 2006, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.  

Judge Creuzot recently served on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Judicial Advisory Council, a committee that advises the board of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on matters related to probation.  He has recently been appointed to the American Bar Association's Commission on Effective Criminal Sanctions and also serves as an Advisor to the American Law Institute's Model Penal Code Sentencing Project.  Judge Creuzot is currently the Presiding Judge of the 17 felony courts in Dallas County.  

In September 2005 Judge Creuzot was named “Outstanding Jurist of the Year” by the State Bar of Texas Criminal Bar Section.  In January 2005, he was honored by the Dallas Bar Association with its Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Award.

Judge Creuzot is a graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law.  Prior to his current position, he served in private practice and as Chief Felony Prosecutor for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.  He is a member of the Texas and Dallas Bar Associations and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.  He serves on the Executive Committee of the SMU University Dedman School of Law and was recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the Dedman School of Law in 2000.  He received the President's Citation from the University of North Texas in 2002.  

He was appointed by Mayor Ron Kirk to serve on the City of Dallas Task Force on Ethics and is a former member of the City of Dallas Homeless Task Force. Judge Creuzot is a member of Holy Tirinity Catholic Church and St. Bernard Catholic Church in Dallas. Judge Creuzot has lived in Dallas since 1979.

BACK TO TOP

JUDGE JOHN CREUZOT RESUME

Professional Experience
1991 to Present: State District Judge
2002 to Present: Presiding Judge of Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility
    Re-Entry Court
1998 to Present: Project Director and Presiding Judge of Dallas Initiative for Expedited
    Rehabilitation and Treatment (DIVERT Court)
1989 to 1991: Private Practice of Law
1982 to 1989: Assistant District Attorney, Dallas County, Texas

Education
May 1982 Juris Doctorate, Southern Methodist University School of Law
December 1978 Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, University of North Texas

Current Associations and Activities
Texas Bar Association
Dallas Bar Association
J. L. Turner Legal Association
Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Southern Methodist University School of Law Executive Committee
University of North Texas President's Council
Dallas County Justice System Focus Group
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals, Member and Legislative Liason
National Drug Court Institute, Member of Faculty Training

Past Associations and Activities
Criminal Justice Advisory Council to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice
Southern Methodist University School of Law Adjunct Professor of Law
Southern Methodist University School of Law Dean Search Committee, 1997-1998
Dallas Bar Association Board of Directors
Legal Analyst, Channel 4 KDFW-TV
Texas Punishment Standards Commission
State Jail Judicial Task Force
State Bar of Texas District Six Grievance Committee
City of Dallas Judicial Nominating Commission
City of Dallas Ethics Task Force
Texas District and County Attorney's Association
Texas Criminal Defense Attorney's Association
Dallas Rotary Club
Dallas Youth Services Corps Board of Directors
Dallas County Detention Overcrowding Task Force
Dallas County Juvenile Department Strategic Planning Committee
Dallas Mental Health Association Board of Directors
Dallas Historical Society Trustee
Dallas Rotary Club Board of Directors
YMCA Membership Committee
YMCA Community Services Board
Hearts and Hammers, Team Captain
I Have A Dream Foundation Advisory Board
Better Kids Better Dallas Spokesperson
NAACP
Mexican American Bar Association
National Judicial College, Faculty Member

Awards Received
Southern Methodist University School of Law Outstanding Alumni
University of North Texas Outstanding Alumni
National Association of Drug Court Professionals New Pioneer Award
J. L. Turner Legal Association Outstanding Jurist Award
Southern Methodist University School of Law 1995 Graduation Keynote Speaker
Dallas Bar Association Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Keynote Speaker
University of North Texas President's Citation
Greater Dallas Mental Health Association Prism Award
Mothers Against Teen Violence Community Service Award
Dallas Bar Association Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Award
Outstanding Jurist Award of the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas
Named Best Criminal Judge by Dallas Observer
Zane Holmes Leadership Award

BACK TO TOP