Professional Experience
Melissa Goodwin currently is a Partner at Potts & Reilly, LLP in Austin, Texas. Her practice areas include Appellate Law, Administrative Law, Civil and Criminal Law.
She presently serves as a Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education.
Melissa is a former Judge of the 427th District Court of Travis County, and former Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 of Travis County, Texas. She served as an appellate attorney for the State’s highest court in criminal cases, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, for more than 8 years. Melissa also worked in the General Counsel’s Office for the State Bar of Texas in the field of attorney discipline.
Melissa received her law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas. At St. Mary's Melissa was selected Senior Associate Editor of the St. Mary's Law Journal, and was the 1992, Olive Truehart Scholar. She also studied at the World Institute on Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria, under the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
Melissa's Proven History Promoting the Highest Standards for the Judiciary
Melissa has actively worked to promote and protect the integrity of the Judiciary, through service on the Texas Judicial Council, and its Juvenile Justice Committee; Courthouse Security Committee; Committee on Public Access to Court Records; and the Supreme Court task for E-filing Rules. She has also served on the Judicial Ethics Committee for the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas and as an instructor for the Texas Justice Court Training Center. She currently serves on the Professional Ethics Committee, the entity charged with issuing opinions providing guidance to lawyers on ethical conduct within the practice of law.
Community Involvement
Melissa has also been active in local civic and professional associations, including the South Austin Civic Club; the Travis County Women Lawyer’s Association and is a Foundation member of the T.C.W.L.A. In 2009, Melissa was received the Pathfinder's Award from TCWLA. Melissa currently serves her community locally, on the Board of Directors for the Oak Hill Business & Professional’s Association, and is a former Advisory Board Member the Austin Community College's Center for Public Policy and Political Studies.
Participation in Republican Party
Melissa isn't new to the Republican Party. She and her husband Grant have been active in the Travis County Republican Party for over a decade. Melissa has been active in TFRW Clubs for over 10 years. Her primary TFRW club is Hill Country Republican Women, though she is an associate member of numerous TFRW Clubs. She is a former President of Hill Country Republican Women (2001-2003). She has twice been honored at the State Convention Tribute to Women Luncheon for her efforts to promote Republican efforts within Travis County and the Region (2002 and 2008). Since 1999, she has regularly attended her Precinct Conventions, County Conventions (SD 14 as a Delegate, SD 25 as a guest) and State Conventions.
Melissa at Home
Melissa and her husband, Grant, are proud parents of twin sons, Max & Jake, age 13, and a daughter Nona, age 12. The Goodwin children attend school at Small Middle School in the Austin Independent School District. Grant and Melissa are blessed to have their support of their parents nearby, with Melissa's mother living just next door, and Grant's parents in nearby Marble Falls. Melissa and her children are avid readers, and the entire family spends its spare time working in their garden and tending to their extended family - their Great Dane, 3 cats and their chickens.