The city of Bryan’s municipal court prosecutor will soon start wearing a robe.
That’s after the city council Tuesday night (April 9) approved naming Tiffany Thomas the municipal court’s presiding judge.
Two council members who were part of the unanimous vote congratulated Thomas.
Marca Ewers-Shurtleff, who is an attorney, said “I would personally like to welcome a female to the bench here in Brazos County. Congratulations, judge.”
Mayor Bobby Gutierrez forwarded historical information from city secretary Mary Lynne Stratta stating that “it’s been a little over 20 years since we’ve had one (a female judge on the city municipal court)”.
Gutierrez also said Thomas “has done a very very good job and she’s been rewarded with a really good appointment to be judge”. “She excels at everything she does because her recommendations came very high and we appreciate everything she has done for us and will continue to do and look to do in the future.”
Thomas, who will be sworn in May first, was finishing her eighth year as municipal court prosecutor.
A city spokeswoman told WTAW News that four applied for the position and three were interviewed by the council.
Thomas fills the vacancy left last year when Jerrell Wise was appointed judge of the new 472nd district court.
Click below to hear comments from the April 9, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.
Statement from the city of Bryan:
The Bryan City Council voted unanimously to appoint Tiffany Thomas as presiding judge of Bryan Municipal Court of Record. She will be sworn in on May 1.
Ms. Thomas has been a City of Bryan Municipal Court Prosecutor for nearly eight years, serving as the attorney representing the City of Bryan and the State of Texas in all class C misdemeanor cases brought before the Court.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, she graduated Cum Laude from Texas Southern University – Thurgood Marshall School of Law and then earned her license to practice law by the State Bar of Texas.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity to serve the City Council, City of Bryan and my fellow citizens,” said Tiffany Thomas, “I strive to serve the public in a fair, efficient, and accountable manner while also contributing to the quality of life in our community by impartially ensuring justice is done.”
Ms. Thomas will fill the vacancy created when Gov. Greg Abbott appointed George Jerrell Wise to serve as Judge of the newly created 472nd Brazos County District Court, where he was sworn in on Nov. 1.