Amber Givens

Presiding Judge, 282nd Judicial District Court

Dallas, Texas

Amber Givens is the presiding judge for the 282nd Judicial District Court in Texas. Since taking office, Amber has established two alternative justice initiatives: Word of Mouth and the Empowerment Program. Word of Mouth is an educational series designed to enhance community understanding of criminal law and the legal system. The Empowerment Program, which has impacted over 200 individuals, is a ten-month-long supplementary felony probation program focused on equipping probationers with essential life skills and support to successfully complete their probation and give back to their community. Amber pioneered the inclusion of the country's inaugural anti-discrimination policy connected to the right to counsel in the Dallas County District Courts’ Indigent Defense Plan. Amber seeks to address systemic issues in the criminal justice system both from the inside and as a coalition builder outside of the courtroom.