Smart Justice: The Rise of Specialty Courts

Judge Brent A. Carr is a U. S. Marine Corps veteran and a 1983 graduate of South Texas College of Law.  After serving eight years as an assistant district attorney, in 1991 he assumed the office of Judge, Tarrant County Criminal Court 9.  In addition to court duties, Judge Carr presides over three specialty court programs: Mental Health Diversion Program, Veterans Treatment Court, and the RISE human trafficking program for female felony offenders.  Additionally, he is the supervising judge of the Enhanced Mental Health Services Program for chronic, frequently incarcerated, mentally ill offenders.  Judge Carr, his staff and programs, have received numerous recognitions and awards for their efforts in criminal justice and specialty court matters.  He is licensed in Texas and federal courts; Board Certified in Criminal Law; and Judicially Certified in Criminal Jurisprudence.  He serves as Chairman of the Office of Court Administration’s Specialty Court Committee, on the Governor’s Specialty Court Advisory Council, as a Commissioner on the Texas Judicial Council on Mental Health, Tarrant County Homelessness CoC Board and as the Local Presiding Judge of Tarrant County Statutory Courts.  He and his wife, Lesli, have been married for 39 years.  They have two sons who serve on active duty with the U. S. Army and a daughter who is an attorney and employed by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney.