BHM 2021: SPC Kicks Off BHM With Presentation Featuring Judge Yolanda Huff

St. Philip's College is celebrating Black History Month (BHM) beginning February 1, 2021. The month will kick-off with a virtual presentation featuring Judge Yolanda Huff and SPC President, Dr. Adena Williams Loston on February 1, 2021, at 3:00 pm (watch here). The presentation will discuss this year’s theme - The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity – and its significance to the personal and professional journey of Huff.

Judge Yolanda Huff was born in Taylor, Texas but the family soon moved to North Carolina where she and her sister, Yvonne, were raised by their parents Norma and Samuel Taylor, Jr. At the age of 16, Yolanda's family moved to Austin, Texas. She graduated from Reagan High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. As a mother of three, she worked while earning a law degree from St. Mary's School of Law. After earning her law degree in 1996, Yolanda opened her solo practice in San Antonio, Texas. 

In her 21 years of practice, she handled criminal, Child Protective Services (CPS) and personal injury cases. She practiced in Bexar County and several surrounding counties including Wilson, Medina, Atascosa, Frio and Uvalde. While working the CPS docket she represented hundreds of children and parents. She learned how important it is for foster children to receive effective legal representation. Criminal law was perhaps the biggest part of Yolanda's practice. Her very first case after being sworn in as an attorney by Judge Carmen Kelsey was a criminal case, she was appointed to by Judge Karen Crouch. Yolanda handled thousands of felony cases which taught her that justice must be tempered with mercy. 

Besides raising her children and running her law practice, Yolanda has made financial contributions and donated her time to several worthwhile organizations. She is a board member for YTIA (Youth Transitioning Into Adulthood), a nonprofit that helps foster kids who are leaving the foster care system. She is also a member of CCAA (Children's Court Ad Litem Association), has served twice as president for the San Antonio Black Lawyers Association and has served for 12 years on the advisory board for the Dispute Resolution Center. She has been a member of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and was the staff attorney for the felony drug court for two years. This much-needed treatment Court works with defendants who have substance abuse problems. 

Huff was the Vice President of Holmes High School PTA in 2002-2003 and a member of Lutheran High School's Booster Club. Yolanda has been a member of the NAACP for the past three years. Community, church and her legal career all helped to prepare Huff for the most rewarding job of her career as Judge of County Court 12. Huff ran and was elected Judge of County Court 12; she was sworn in and took the bench on January 1, 2019. Huff also presides over the Mental Health Docket. Since taking the bench Huff has been asked to serve on the Bexar County Domestic Violence Commission, the board for the Ministry of the Three Crosses and she heads up the Bexar County Specialty Courts Coalition. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family, hiking the state and national parks and running marathons.  

To learn more about this month's BHM observance, click here. 

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