Meet Judge Kitchens

• Graduated from Baylor University with a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) in May 1977.

  
  

• Admitted to the Texas Bar on November 11, 1977.

  
  

• Has practiced in areas to include Business, Creditor-Debtor, Criminal, Family, and Wills-Trusts-Probate law.

  
  

• Admitted to practice in Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Texas Eastern District Court.

  
  

• Served as a Prosecutor and Defense Attorney

I have taken four oaths during my adult life. The first oath was on November 11, 1977, when I took an oath to be an attorney in the State of Texas: “I, Travis Eugene Kitchens, Jr., do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitutions of the United States, and of this state; that I will honestly demean myself in the practice of law; that I will discharge my duties to my clients to the best of my ability; and that I will conduct myself with integrity and civility in dealing and communicating with the court and all parties. So help me God.” I have honored that oath my entire legal career.

The second oath was on December 30, 1977, I took an oath before God and my wife: ““I, Travis, take you, Susan, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death does us part.” I have honored that oath to my wife, recently celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary.

The third oath was when I moved to Trinity County in April 1978 to work as the Assistant District Attorney for the 258th Judicial District, serving Polk, San Jacinto and Trinity County: “I, Travis Eugene Kitchens, Jr. do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of Assistant District Attorney of the 258th Judicial District of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God." I honored that oath until I left the District Attorney’s office on October 31, 1981 and went into private practice.

The fourth oath I took was when on January 1, 2019, when I took my office as the 258th Judicial District Court, serving Polk, San Jacinto and Trinity Counties: “I, Travis Eugene Kitchens, Jr. do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of the 258th Judicial District Court of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God.” I have honored that oath.