Kathy Mills

Kathy serves the State of Texas as the Clerk of the Court for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals and is the recipient of the 2024 Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award from the Texas Bar College, an award presented to an outstanding lawyer based on achievement or contribution to professionalism.

She began her legal career clerking for the Honorable Chief United States District Judge Alia Moses in the Western District of Texas. After her federal clerkship, Kathy served the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office in various roles over many years, including assistant district attorney responsible prosecuting crimes against children and presenting hundreds of felony cases to the Grand Jury. Concluding her service in that office, as the 2nd Assistant D.A., Kathy fulfilled an executive leadership role responsible for the administration of the office. In addition to her prosecutorial and leadership duties, Kathy taught various sections of the penal code at the Corpus Christi Police Department Police Academy.

Beyond experience as a public administrator, appellate attorney, and criminal litigator, Kathy’s civil trial and litigation experience includes complex contract disputes, insurance defense, and one federal civil rights case. During her time as a solo practitioner, she managed a criminal defense, family law, parental termination, and mental health law caseload. She also regularly served as an appointed magistrate overseeing probable cause hearings for civil mental health commitments.

Kathy’s passion for bar service and ongoing legal education is evident through her numerous CLE presentations and substantial years of leadership on local bars. Kathy believes civility in the law is a constant obligation and has chaired the State Bar of Texas Professionalism and Civility Committee. She also serves area youth as a high school football official at the JV and Varsity levels.

In addition to her professional activities, Kathy enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, book club, and relaxing in nature with her husband, Billy, and their three sons.