Meet Wade

When the Honorable Bob McGrath unexpectedly announced his resignation, effective May 3, 2010, from the 342nd Judicial District Court, the Texas Election Code required that the Tarrant County Republican Party — through an Executive Committee comprised of a quorum of elected and ratified precinct chairs — nominate a candidate to place on the 2010 general election ballot who, if elected, would finish the unexpired term.  On June 26, 2010, the TCGOP Executive Committee nominated Wade Birdwell by majority vote to be that candidate.  Shortly thereafter, Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the same bench to immediately fill the vacancy left by his predecessor.

On July 28, 2010, the Honorable Terry Means, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, administered the oath of office to Judge Birdwell.  On September 2, 2010, Judge Means administered the oath of office once more during Judge Birdwell’s ceremonial investiture.  On November 2, 2010, the voters of Tarrant County elected Judge Birdwell to fill the unexpired term for which he was originally nominated.  Judge Birdwell took his most recent oath of office on January 1, 2011, in recognition of his election.

Before taking the bench, Judge Birdwell was a practicing attorney with more than 20 years of experience defending primarily members of the local medical community in both trials and appeals in state and federal courts.  He acted as lead appellate counsel in approximately seventy appeals and original proceedings, participated in oral arguments before the federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the state courts of appeals in Amarillo, Dallas, Eastland, El Paso and, of course, Fort Worth.  He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court on June 1, 2004.  Based upon his extensive experience before state and federal appellate tribunals, Judge Birdwell became in 1998, and remains today, Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a certification that evidences not only an extensive knowledge of and experience with civil trial and appellate procedure, but also proven expertise in the interpretation and application of both state and federal law.

Due to his extensive appellate practice, Judge Birdwell possessed a well-documented record of originalist constitutional and strict statutory interpretation, the most notable example of which was his vigorous advocacy of religious freedom in the landmark First Amendment case, Westbrook v. Penley, wherein the Supreme Court of Texas reaffirmed the constitutional autonomy of local churches, their clergy, and their governing members to make internal decisions affecting church membership and government without subjecting themselves to legal liability in civil courts.

Judge Birdwell’s record of service in the Republican Party of Texas similarly demonstrated his strong commitment to Republican principles. In addition to his service as a precinct chair in Mansfield, he previously served as a poll watcher, an election judge, and a member of the nominations and resolutions committees for Senate District 10.  As a delegate to five of the last six state conventions, he has consistently supported the platform’s call for judges who adhere to the principle of judicial restraint and who strictly interpret the law based upon the law’s original intent.

As a Fort Worth native whose father worked on the F-111 and F-16 programs at General Dynamics and whose mother taught at Birdville High, Judge Birdwell has deep personal roots in this community.  Along with their children, Alexandra (14) and Nicholas (9), he and his wife, Liz, are long time residents of Mansfield and active members of Pantego Bible Church.

Judge Birdwell’s brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell is the Texas State Senator for Senate District 22.  Brian and his wife, Mel, live in Granbury, Texas.  Their son, Matthew, attends Texas Tech University.

• A practicing attorney with more than 22 years of experience representing clients in civil trials and appeals in state and federal courts
• Rated by peers with highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards
• Rated one of the top appellate lawyers in Tarrant County by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine
• Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1998 to present
• Member, State Bar of Texas (Appellate Section)
• Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Member, Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Member, Bar of the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas.
• Member, Tarrant County Bar Association
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Past Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
• Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline, 1998
• Past Member, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
• Member, Order of Barristers and  Research Editor
• Doctor of Jurisprudence – University of Houston Law Center, 1989
• Member, Houston Law Review
• Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering – University of Texas at Austin, 1983

• Former Republican Precinct Chair, Precinct 2557
• Poll Watcher, Tarrant County Republican Party, 2004 General Election
• Ballot Security Consultant, Tarrant County Republican Party, 2006 Primary Election
• Delegate, Republican Party of Texas State Conventions, 2000, 2004, 2006
• Tarrant County Election Judge-2010 Republican Primary, 2008 General Election, 2008 Republican Runoff Election