Dannnye K. Holley, Dean and Professor of Law

Gary Bledsoe
Acting Dean, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

 

James M. Douglas

Phone: (713) 313-1071
Fax: (713) 313-1057
Email: gary.bledsoe@tmslaw.tsu.edu

Education

The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., with Honors and Special Departmental Honors, 1973
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1976

Areas of Expertise

  1. Public Interest Law
  2. Civil Rights Law
  3. Employment Law
  4. Handled Voting Rights and Desegregation and Employment Discrimination Litigation

Biographical Information

  1. Assistant City Attorney, City of Austin
  2. Assistant Attorney General
  3. Special Assistant Attorney General
  4. Former Visiting Professor, St. Mary’s University School of Law
  5. Private Practice of Law since 1994
  6. Married to Alberta Phillips, editorial writer, Austin-American Statesman

Legal Career Highlights

  1. Cedar Avenue Litigation against Police Department that led to historic settlement, leading to cameras in police units, $1.2 million to be placed in a fund for scholarships to benefit the Plaintiffs and other deserving youth, along with other changes regarding the investigation of alleged police misconduct
  2. Along with Robert Notzon filed a lawsuit that led to the City of Austin using properly validated tests for police promotions
  3. Along with Attorney Daniel Covich, helped to devise theory that led to successful class action against major banks for predatory lending
  4. Redistricting Litigation that included successful efforts to create Congressional District 9, which is currently occupied by the Honorable Al Green
  5. Along with Attorney Robert Notzon, won two major Jury Awards for retaliation against agency in Texas charged with enforcing discrimination laws
  6. Won major victory to keep Riverside General Hospital open, with a sweeping 350-page opinion making it clear that the hospital was victimized through race discrimination by a Fortune 500 company
  7. Helped to negotiate a scholarship program with HEB for scholarships for students attending Texas Southern University, Prairie View A & M University and Huston-Tillotson University.
  8. Author of National NAACP Predatory Lending Principles adopted by major banking institutions around the country.

Professional Organizations, Affiliations and Awards

  1. Texas Southern University Board of Regents, 2007-2017
  2. Texas ACLU Board of Directors
  3. NAACP National Board of Directors, 2003-Present
  4. Housing Chair, National NAACP
  5. Legal Committee, Vice-Chair, National NAACP
  6. Texas NAACP President, 1991-Present
  7. Austin NAACP Branch President, 1987-1991
  8. Travis County Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year Award
  9. Attorney General of Texas Lawyer of the Year Award
  10. National NAACP State President of the Year Award
  11. Benjamin L. Hooks Keeper of Flame Award
  12. Helped lead Texas NAACP to two Juanita Jackson Mitchell Advocacy Awards
  13. Received Advocacy Awards from Austin and Houston NAACP Units


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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