CYNTHIA STEVENS KENT
Cynthia Stevens Kent has been licensed by the Texas Supreme Court to practice law in Texas since November of 1977. For more than 46 years she has devoted herself to the practice of law as a private attorney, assistant criminal district attorney and judge. After 24 years of public service as a District Judge and County Court at Law Judge, presiding over all types of civil, felony and misdemeanor criminal, family law and juvenile law cases, Judge Kent retired from the bench and returned to the private practice of law in East Texas. She served as an assistant criminal district attorney, special prosecutor and attorney pro tem.
Now serving as a private attorney, arbitrator and mediator, Cynthia Stevens Kent brings her decades of judicial and legal experience to the table and courtroom to assist parties in resolution of their disputes. As a nationally recognized author and instructor in handling capital cases and civil case management, Cynthia Kent has demonstrated her commitment to improving the law.
Judge Kent earned a Bachelor of Science, Juris Doctorate and Masters of Judicial Studies decree. She served as Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, Chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, Inc., Member of the State Bar of Texas Administration of Rules of Evidence Committee, Governor’s Criminal Justice Advisory Council, State Bar of Texas Jury Charge Oversight Committee, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judicial Education Committee and State Bar of Texas Board of Directors. She has received a Mediator's Certificate in Domestic Violence and a Mediator's Certificate from the Conflict Resolution Training Institute from Texas Tech Univ. & S. Plains Assoc. of Government - DRC (2008 - Civil Mediation, 2009 - Family Law Mediation) and has served as an arbitrator or mediator in hundreds of disputed matters since 2009.
Judge Kent has served on the faculty at The National Judicial College for over 10 years, faculty of the Texas Center for the Judiciary for 18 years and has served on the faculty at a variety of other conferences in Texas and other states regarding numerous legal topics. Among other legal publications, Judge Kent authored the Texas Benchbook for County Court at Law Judges (1986, 1987), co-authored the Texas Benchbook for District Judges (1989, 1990), and co-authored the Texas Benchbook for Capital Cases (2006-2008).
Married for 48 years to Don W. Kent, a civil litigation defense attorney, Judge Kent is the mother of three grown sons, seven grandchildren and is a member and speaker at many local, state, and national community groups and organizations. She is the recipient of several community and professional honors and awards.
