Retired Judge Barbara Lynn Reflects on Landmark Career in Texas

Barbara Lynn, who made history as the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, has stepped into retirement after an influential 25 years on the bench. Appointed in 1999 by then-President Bill Clinton, Lynn broke barriers as the first female chief judge of any federal district court in Texas. In August 2022, she transitioned to a senior judge role and subsequently joined the law firm of Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann LLP in Dallas, founded by her husband, Mike Lynn.

Reflecting on her time in the judiciary, Lynn expressed pride in her commitment to administer justice impartially. “I didn’t show my politics in my decision-making. I worked hard and achieved justice,” she noted. Her tenure included managing complex cases, such as the bribery and money laundering trial of former Dallas Mayor Pro-Tempore Don Hill, which she described as a painful betrayal of public trust.

One of the most challenging moments of her career came during the sentencing of Husein Smadi, who was arrested in a sting operation after attempting to detonate a bomb in downtown Dallas. Despite the gravity of Smadi’s intentions, Lynn opted for a lesser sentence of 24 years in prison, citing his young age and a history of mental illness. “The crime was horrible, but the job of a good judge is to listen and weigh the evidence,” she explained.

As she embarks on this new chapter, Lynn plans to focus on mediation and arbitration, areas where her judicial experience will be invaluable. She is set to attend the Harvard mediation training program next month and aims to engage in trial consulting and strategy, bringing a judge’s perspective to lawyers preparing their cases.

The shift from the bench presents its challenges. “Sending people to prison is really hard, even when they deserve it,” she admitted. The emotional weight of such decisions often lingers, especially considering the impact on victims and families. The complexities of justice, she noted, are not easily quantifiable.

When discussing the current state of the Supreme Court, Lynn expressed concern over its increasingly conservative makeup, influenced by appointments from the current and previous administrations. “The Supreme Court is obviously a more conservative institution,” she stated, emphasizing her unease with the frequent use of the shadow docket, which allows decisions to be made without full opinions. This practice complicates the legal landscape for trial judges navigating similar cases.

In her retirement, Lynn has joined the Article III Coalition, a group of retired federal judges advocating for judicial independence. This coalition aims to give a voice to federal judges, who often cannot defend themselves publicly.

Reflecting on her judicial career, Lynn humorously remarked about the flattery often directed towards judges, describing it as “90% insincere.” Yet, she acknowledged that the appreciation for effective lawyering was a genuine highlight of her time on the bench. “To see great lawyers in court argue to either me or to the jury, that was a treat that never got old,” she said.

As Barbara Lynn looks forward to new endeavors in law, her legacy as a trailblazer in the judiciary remains firmly established, paving the way for future generations of women in law.