He obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the University of Houston on May 14, 1983.<ref>Karleen Koen (Fall 2002), "Cougars in the Capitol," ''Collegium - The Magazine of the University of Houston,'' p. 18.</ref> He was admitted to the Texas Bar on June 24, 1983, and licensed to practice law by the Texas Supreme Court and the [[United States Supreme Court]]. He was further licensed in the federal district courts for the Western and Southern districts of Texas and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>[http://www.texasbar.com State Bar of Texas | Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> | He obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the University of Houston on May 14, 1983.<ref>Karleen Koen (Fall 2002), "Cougars in the Capitol," ''Collegium - The Magazine of the University of Houston,'' p. 18.</ref> He was admitted to the Texas Bar on June 24, 1983, and licensed to practice law by the Texas Supreme Court and the [[United States Supreme Court]]. He was further licensed in the federal district courts for the Western and Southern districts of Texas and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>[http://www.texasbar.com State Bar of Texas | Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |