Jurist in Residence Letters
The Jurist in Residence (JIR) position was created to foster judicial leadership and to promote greater expertise among child protection judges. The Jurist in Residence acts as a consultant, trainer, and speaker to provide expert and seasoned judicial advice on matters affecting courts and legal system handling of child welfare cases and issues. District Judge Rob Hofmann has served as the Children's Commission's Jurist in Residence since December 2018. District Judge Piper McCraw was appointed as Jurist in Residence in February 2021.
Judge Rob Hofmann currently serves as judge of the 452nd Judicial District in five western hill country counties, following many years of serving as a Child Protection Court Judge. He has also served as the Children's Commission Chair of the Foster Care and Education Committee prior to serving as the Vice Chair of the Children's Commission. With the retirement of Judge Dean Rucker in Spring 2021, Judge Hofmann became the Children's Commission Senior Jurist in Residence.
Prior to her appointment to the bench by Governor Abbott in 2015 to the 469th District Court in Collin County, Piper McCraw was an assistant district attorney for Collin County where she was a misdemeanor court chief then later a member of a felony trial team. Judge McCraw has handled a wide variety of cases and tried over 150 jury trials. Judge McCraw is also proud to serve as the Chair of the Children's Commission Training Committee. She is board certified in Family Law and Child Welfare Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Acting as JIRs, Judges Hofmann and McCraw are instrumental in advancing judicial education and community collaboration across the state through training events and written communications, particularly by authoring regular topical and timely Jurist in Residence letters. The JIR Letter was created to routinely update judges on special matters, training events, and best practices.
Jurist in Residence Letters
(Available at http://texaschildrenscommission.gov/reports-and-resources/resource-letter-for-judges-attorneys/ )