This interview is part of Houston Landing’s Who are HOU? series, which tells tales of the diverse people, cultures, and experiences that make up this city. Every story—from personal histories to struggles to daily victories—is conveyed in the interviewee’s own words to preserve their voices and the experiences that have shaped Houston’s identity.
There are a few names that would come up if you asked folks in the legal community to select the best judge on the federal bench right now. Lee Rosenthal, a Houston district judge since 1992, is probably one of them.She has a reputation for fairness and impartiality, according to law professors, past federal judges, local criminal defense lawyers, and former Rosenthal legal clerks that the Landing interviewed for an article about the judge assuming senior status.Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, said she is highly known and well-regarded in the community.Biannual surveys of judges in the Houston region, carried out by the city’s bar organization, support the claims made by Blackman and others. Attorneys who have taken them over the years have continuously rated Rosenthal well for his readiness and prompt, decisive decisions, among other qualities.
Rosenthal intends to continue hearing a full complement of cases, but she is by no means putting up her black robes.For the time being, we believed that the judge’s new classification offered a chance to learn more about her. For clarity, the following Q&A has been slightly altered.
We appreciate you taking the time out of your hectic day to speak with us. What distinguishes the Southern District of Texas from other national district court systems? Is there anything about this area that sets it apart from others, or the kinds of situations you hear?
Yes, I believe there is. Because we are a border court, I believe we have the best workload in the nation, especially in the Houston division. Our district is divided into seven divisions. Our district encompasses a vast quantity of land, and that is a very huge district. The workload in each division is also different from the caseload in every other division, as you may expect. There is a lot of intriguing litigation generated by Houston, which is a major city, the third or fourth largest in the nation, very diversified, has a significant port, many large companies, a lot of oil and gas, a lot of banking, and a medical center. The docket we have is rich. It’s an extremely diverse docket. As one can expect, the percentage of criminal cases is significantly higher in the divisions along the border.
Additionally, Houston has a sizable immigration docket. As you can expect, the immigration side of those divisions’ dockets is far greater. As a result, the caseloads vary. It is not common to have a district where caseloads differ significantly depending on the division. Such a huge district and a district with such a diverse range of sites inside the district are uncommon.
What is your favorite aspect of serving as a federal judge?
That is an excellent question. The mix of having incredibly intriguing concerns and legal issues that arise, in my opinion, would be the cause. We are addressing the identical legal issues that the Court of Appeals receives. However, we have an extra edge as we get to communicate directly with persons on both the criminal and civil sides of the case. Therefore, we can actually see who our actions will immediately affect. Additionally, you discover a great deal about people when they appear before you in court. It’s intriguing. Additionally, there are a lot of legal concerns in this field. We frequently deal with problems for which there is no obvious solution because of the diverse nature of our docket.
Thus, it is fascinating both intellectually and in terms of the various types of individuals you encounter and the tales they share with you. They have to tell me things about their lives, businesses, and accomplishments, which makes it fascinating even though they wouldn’t normally share these stories with others. And before you ask me which type of case I like best, I can’t say because they’re all really exciting when you have to make the correct decision.
Could you explain the requirements for becoming a federal judge? Does your name need to be submitted for consideration, and if so, how does that process work?
The journey to the federal bench is a unique story for each individual. In the distant past, there was a television program that featured the line, “There are 1000 stories in the Naked City.” One of them is this. Every judge has a tale like that, and it’s a combination of an intriguing process because you don’t have much influence over if or when it happens. The majority of people are lawyers. They are employed in a legal capacity. Since it is a procedure that involves political personalities, many people who become federal judges do so through political activities. Therefore, to be nominated, you must first secure the support of a senator and then successfully navigate the confirmation process and the scrutiny that follows. As a result, many individuals become aware of the senator who recommends or nominates them to the White House through their political actions.
None of stuff was done by me. As I mentioned before, I had four young children, and I was attempting to find a spouse before I found one, which presented more difficulties. I didn’t have time to go to or take part in political events. I was quite fortunate. Since then-Senator Biden was in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time, the 1992 bill was dubbed the Biden Bill. The law provides for extra judgeships to address the issues of delay and expense in the civil side of the federal court docket. An further bill that would provide our court with much-needed judgeships is currently being examined for the same reason. However, five additional judgeships were created at the time, and as they had to be filled simultaneously, there was a chance for someone without the typical political credentials to be considered. And getting that slot was a huge blessing for me.
When your dad was hired by Rice University, where he and your mother worked for many years, you went to Houston for the first time. Do you recall the atmosphere in Houston at the time?
I had attended a modest high school in a downstate Illinois university town. After that, I traveled to Houston, which is enormous and extremely hot, where I spent a year at Bellaire High School. Bellaire High School was roughly a thousand times bigger than the previous school I was attending when I started as a senior. Thus, it was a significant shift. I recall Houston to be just enormous, eternally sprawling. As an exciting new development in Houston, I do recall going up the escalator at Neiman’s when the Galleria opened, which was a big field trip. And at the time, it was the city’s periphery. I didn’t really remember much more than that. There most likely was, but it was definitely not like it is today.
Why is Houston so special? What do you think makes Houston so special?
diversity and the city’s readiness to welcome visitors. The city really does reward people who don t have connections here, are new, didn t come from money, didn t come from connections that might exist if you were born and bred. It’s completely open. You have opportunities here if you can perform effectively in whatever work you decide to do. And I believe that’s what makes Houston so unique. And with the energy provided by the energy sector, the medical center, and all of the different businesses that make up the Houston economy, from large to small, the place is just buzzing. And that s exciting. To watch that grow, and grow, and grow, at the same time that the city became more and more diverse, with waves of people coming in from all over the world it s a terrific city. It is just a terrific place to live, and it s an easy city for people to get around.
The traffic everyone complains about the traffic. But for people who are balancing the demands of work, the demands of family, and trying just to make it through an average day you get in your car, you get to where you want to go, and then it makes it a much more convenient place for you to get what you need to get done, done. And for me, that was a huge advantage. I had four young children. I was working here. Before that, I was a partner at a large law firm. My oldest daughter is special needs. My youngest two are twins. So, there are years in which the day, the part of the day before I actually got to work, is really quite fuzzy. But Houston made it much easier to do than it would have been in most large cities that afford comparable professional opportunities.
I read in a New York University interview that you were pregnant with your twins when you met with then-Texas Senator William Phil Graham. You sort of waddled into the room, sat down on the couch, and interviewed with him.
I was very pregnant. (laughs) Usually, he would interview people in Washington, but I couldn t get on a plane at that point. So, he very graciously allowed me to waddle into his office, somehow get on his couch, and even more mysteriously, get up again. It was very kind of him.
What do you love most about Houston?
The people. Definitely the people. It s just a welcoming place, and there are so many interesting people doing all sorts of different things in this city. It makes it a real pleasure.
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