Judge Lincoln Goodwin is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4, Place 1. His Court is the largest court in Texas for annual filings. He took office in December 2014 and was elected to a full term in November 2016. Judge Goodwin currently serves as the presiding judge for all Harris County Justices. He has been an attorney for 25 years and was selected as a 2013 Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly Magazine and a 2013 & 2014 Top Lawyer in Houstonian Magazine.
Education and Career: Judge Goodwin earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in 1994(B.A., English) before earning his law degree at the Texas Tech University School of Law in 1998. He was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 1998. Judge Goodwin founded the Susan Fortney Award for Ethics, an annual award presented to the Texas Tech law student who most exemplifies the honor and integrity required of the legal profession.
Following Law school, Judge Goodwin served for two years as a briefing attorney to U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings. After completing his clerkship, he returned to his hometown of Houston where he handled litigation matters for several Fortune 500 companies at a large national law firm. He then worked for several years as an Assistant District Attorney at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted numerous felonies, including violent crimes, family violence,and crimes against children. After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Judge Goodwin served as a senior attorney with The Lanier Law Firm representing clients in a variety of civil litigation matters.
Community Activities:
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Goodwin served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, District 4.
Judge Goodwin is also a member of the Lone Star College Community Advisory Council, the Advisory Committee for the Lone Star College University Park Criminal Justice Program and serves on the Directors Committee for the Phoenix District of the Boy Scouts.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the Pearl Fincher Fine Arts Museum, the Barbara Bush Library, the Cypress Creek Christian Community Center, and the Board of Advisors for the Chinquapin School for Gifted & Underprivileged Children.
Judge Goodwin is active in WW2 history. He has visited the American Cemeteries at Omaha Beach and in the Philippines as well as Pearl Harbor. He initiated and supported “Man to Man- An Evening with Louie Zamperini,” a citywide event honoring Louie Zamperini, WWII hero and subject of the book and film Unbroken.
Judge Goodwin was personally honored on the floor of the Texas House before the full Texas House and Senate by Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht for Judge Goodwin’s efforts following the devastating “Tax Day” and Hurricane Harvey floods along Cypress Creek.
Personal: He lives in Precinct 4 with his wife and two daughters. Judge Goodwin has completed 13 marathons and an Ironman Triathlon.