Meet the Candidate
Ms. Smoots-Hogan was born and raised in Southeast Houston, Texas. She is the only child of Sylvia Alexander Smoots, a retired home economics/computer science HISD teacher, and W. Bernard Smoots, a retired marketing consultant.
At a young age, Ms. Smoots-Hogan excelled in academics and was quickly accepted at the Kinkaid School. While at Kinkaid, Ms. Smoots-Hogan joined the school's nationally recognized and award-winning policy debate team. It was during her time with the debate team, where Ms. Smoots-Hogan solidified her love of the law. Ms. Smoots-Hogan travelled across the country with the debate team, bringing home several national speaker and debate awards.
After graduating from the Kinkaid School, Ms. Smoots-Hogan moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas at Austin. While in Austin, Ms. Smoots-Hogan maintained studies in government and journalism. Ms. Smoots-Hogan was also very active in the Student Government at UT Austin. During her junior year at UT Austin, Ms. Smoots-Hogan returned home to Houston to care for her then-ailing father.
Ms. Smoots-Hogan completed her undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas. While at the University of St. Thomas, Ms. Smoots-Hogan became a columnist for the campus newspaper and was elected as an officer in the Student Government. Ms. Smoots-Hogan graduated with an Honors degree in Communications, with focus on print and broadcast journalism.
Ms. Smoots-Hogan spent her spare time in her latter college years being a part-time reporter/disc jockey for her family-owned radio station heard throughout South Houston/Richmond/Bay City. Ms. Smoots-Hogan also served as the station's director of operations, during her father's illness.
Though Ms. Smoots-Hogan had built an appreciation for communications, she returned to her love of the law and was accepted to South Texas College of Law. During the summer after her first year of law school, Ms. Smoots-Hogan began a lengthy clerkship with Abraham, Watkins, Sorrels, Nichols & Friend, a prominent plaintiffs' law firm. During her second year of law school, Ms. Smoots-Hogan won a spot on the nationally ranked Trial Advocacy team. During her law school tenure, Ms. Smoots-Hogan won three National Moot Court titles, two speaker awards, and two briefing awards.
After completing her legal studies and a clerkship/contract attorney position with Stephen Carrigan, Ms. Smoots-Hogan was asked to join the trial section at Brown McCarroll's Houston Office. Ms. Smoots-Hogan spent the next three and a half years making weekly visits to the Courthouse engaging in heavy motion practice and taking over 75 substantive witness, party, and expert depositions. Ms. Smoots-Hogan also acted as first and second chair at several trials.
After a brief stint at Zimmerman, Axelrad, Myers, Stern & Wise, Ms. Smoots-Hogan joined the litigation boutique of Powers & Slay for two years. While at Powers & Slay, Ms. Smoots-Hogan continued with weekly Courthouse visits for heavy motion practice and trial, as well as taking over 100 witness and expert depositions. Ms. Smoots-Hogan also began to change her focus to acquiring additional clients and begin the process of entering solo law practice.
In October 2008, Ms. Smoots- Hogan opened her own office for the practice of law. Currently and throughout her career, Ms. Smoots-Hogan actively defends individuals, homeowners, small companies, and municipalities. Licensed to practice throughout the State of Texas and in the Southern District of Texas for the United States District Courts, Ms. Smoots-Hogan's practice areas are commercial litigation, construction litigation, real estate law and litigation, insurance law (first-party and third-party claims), U.S.C. 1983 claims, family law and personal injury litigation.
A life-long Houstonian, Ms. Smoots-Hogan lives with her husband of nine years, Eric, and their three-year old son, Aedan Cade. Eric is a Project Manager for JE Dunn of Texas, a large general contractor. Mr. Hogan has worked on and led several high profile commercial building projects, most notably the Reliant Center in Reliant Park. Aedan Cade attends nursery school at St. Martin's Episcopal Children's Center.
Along with her growing law practice and judicial aspirations, Ms. Smoots-Hogan is very active in her community and with several charitable organizations. Due to her own childhood health issues and family members afflicted with cancer, Ms. Smoots-Hogan is avid supporter of children's and cancer charities. Ms. Smoots-Hogan is also passionate about the advancement of women in professional careers. Accordingly, Ms. Smoots-Hogan is an active member of several community organizations geared toward that mission and acts as a mentor for several aspiring women.