Appointed by Governor Rick Perry on April 13, 2011 and re-elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020, Judge Courtney Arkeen is the first female and first Republican District Judge in Orange County, Texas and surrounding counties. She is also the Administrative Judge for Orange County. Judge Arkeen graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a dual degree in government and sociology with high honors in 1997, completing her undergraduate work in 3 years. She then attended the University of Houston Law Center and graduated with her juris-doctorate law degree in 1999, completing her graduate work in 2 ½ years. Before being appointed to the bench, Judge Arkeen practiced family, criminal, and civil law in Vidor, Texas for 11 years. She is the Chairman of the Lamar State College-Orange Foundation, Vice President of the Foundation for Southeast Texas, past president of the Orange County Bar, Jefferson County Bar and the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Associations. Judge Arkeen served as the chairman of the Cattle Barron’s Ball for the American Cancer Society, was a member of the Jefferson County Pro Bono Board and past President of the Jefferson County Bar Foundation. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Center for the Judiciary and Chairs their Court Professionals Conference. Judge Arkeen is a Rotarian, serves on the Board for Orange County Meals on Wheels, is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and serves as the Texas Bar Foundation’s Nominating Chair for District 3. She has received numerous awards including the Athena Award in 2015, Outstanding Young Lawyer Award in Jefferson County, and was named as a “Rising Star” in Texas Monthly Magazine in the area of family law from 2006-2010. She is also featured on KBMT Channel 12 News’ “Ask the Judge” segment. Judge Arkeen is a frequent motivational and commencement speaker at local events and ceremonies. Judge Arkeen and her husband, Cody, love to travel and spend time at the lake with their children, Paxton (13), Channing and Chaplin (9).