Story/ photos courtesy of and permission from Conexión San Ángelo
Flaco Guapo Media
SAN ANGELO – Carmen Dusek, was sworn in as an attorney at law in 1996, by Judge, Marilyn Aboussie, as Carmen specifically asked for Judge Aboussie because she was her mentor and like a mother to her.
Judge Barbara Walther, who seat on 51st Judicial District Court bench, retired after a lengthy distinguished judicial career. Judge Walther administered the oath of office to her successor, Judge Carmen Dusek.
On Friday, December 14, 2018, family, friends and Dusek’s fellow legal members were at the official 2 p.m. swearing-in-ceremony that was 200 strong and packed in for Dusek’s special day as Judge Barbara Walther who is retiring, swore her in. The cermony took place on the second floor of the Tom Green County Courthouse.
And Judge Aboussie who was there again, was asked how special was it for her to be at both ceremonies, 22 years apart.
“She is such a delightful person, a tremendous lawyer and such a great friend.” “It is a great honor to be a part of her life” said the Judge. “I think of Carmen as her older sister, but she probably thinks of me as her mother,” Aboussie concluded, laughingly.
“I am honored to have been chose by Governor Abbott from a pool of well-respected applicants who are all outstanding trial attorneys.” “And I am humbled to succeed Judge Barbara Walther, one of the most respected and experienced trial judges in Texas,” said Judge Dusek.
Governor, Greg Abbott appointed Carmen Symes Dusek to the 51st Judicial District Court in Coke, Irion, Schleicher, Sterling and Tom Green Counties for a for a term set to expire December 31, 2020, or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified, per Jackson Walker’s issued press release on their website.
“It is a privilege and an honor to serve you, I will just be simply serving from a different position, this time with a front row seat” said the newest judge to sit on the bench, Judge Dusek, to all who attended her swearing in. How divinely ironic that Judge Dusek’s appointment to the 51st District Judgeship was different from the judicial position she wanted which was Judge Tom Gossett’s 391st, District Court seat. In 2016, Dusek ran in the Republican primary against her friend, Attorney, Brad Goodwin who won.
Judge Dusek' defeat turned into a blessing as she had another two years doing the thing she loved most, “trying cases.” “I realize now that the 51st speaks to me and who I am than the 391st would have.” “That’s because in addition to Tom Green, I get to serve four rural counties,” she said. So, the Judge is truly in the place where the Lord wanted her to be. “And that’s what I truly believe, it’s a blessing” concluded the Honorable Judge.
Judge, Dusek, officially began her first day to hear court cases on Monday, December 17 at 9 a.m.