T. John Ward

T. John Ward graduated from Texas Tech University in 1964, with a degree in Chemistry, and obtained his law degree from Baylor University in 1967. He spent 31 years a trial lawyer before serving as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas from September 24, 1999 until his retirement on October 1, 2011. After his retirement from the bench, he returned to private practice and currently serves as of counsel for Miller Fair Henry, PLLC.

Throughout his career, Judge Ward has received numerous awards and accolades. He is a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and American Bar Association. In 2004, Baylor University named Judge Ward Baylor Lawyer of the Year. The American Inns of Court, in cooperation with the members of the local bar, chartered the Honorable T. John Ward American Inn of Court for East Texas in 2006. In 2009, the Texas Chapters of American Board of Trial Advocates named Judge Ward Trial Judge of the Year. Judge Ward was selected as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in IP by a publication of American Lawyer magazine in 2010. In 2014, Texas Tech Alumni Association awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was named as one of “50 Lions of the Texas Bar” in 2017 and received the Outstanding 50-year Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation in 2022.

Throughout his career, Judge Ward has been active in his community, serving on boards for charitable foundations and the local hospital. Judge Ward and his wife Cissy have been married for 60 years. They have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.