Chief Justice (ret.), 3rd Court of Appeals, Texas

Chief Justice Marilyn Aboussie (retired), is a graduate of Midwestern University and the University of Texas School of Law. Ms. Aboussie practiced law in Houston and San Angelo, Texas, until her appointment as the first judge of the newly created 340th District Court in Tom Green County. In 1986, she was appointed to a vacancy on the Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas. In 1998, she was elected Chief Justice of the court, holding that office until her retirement in January 2003. She continues to serve as a senior judge for the State of Texas and is a certified Mediator.

She was the first female attorney in every law firm where she practiced, the first woman judge of a court of record in Concho Valley and the first woman on the Texas Court of Appeals for the third district. She was elected chair of the State Bar Judicial Section and chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary. In 1998 she received the Outstanding Woman in Government Service Award from the Women Lawyers’ Association.

Midwestern State University named her its outstanding alumnus. She is a life member of the Texas Bar Foundation, the American Bar Foundation, Midwestern State University Ex-Students' Association and the University of Texas Ex-Students'Association. She Chaired the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Center for the Judiciary, the Council of Chief Justices and as judicial member of the State Bar Board of Directors and the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. She is on the professional advisory board for St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and for Southern Women in Public Service at the Stennis Center for Public Service. She has served on numerous State Bar and Supreme Court committees, many boards and commissions around the state and is a frequent speaker and lecturer at civic events and professional seminars. Locally, Ms. Aboussie is a sustaining member of the Junior League of San Angelo, a founding board member of Hospice of San Angelo, Angel of the San Angelo Schools Foundation, former trustee of Angelo Community Hospital and member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She and her husband, John Hay, have one son.