Honorable Alicia Franklin York

Houston, TX

Judge Alicia Franklin York is a Boerne and Houston resident.  She served as a State District Judge in the 311th District Court in Houston, Texas for two terms.  She is double board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law and child welfare law.  Judge York is also fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  She previously served on the Pattern Jury Charge Committee of the State Bar of Texas for Family Law.

Judge York has over twenty (20) years of experience, beginning her legal career as an attorney, practicing primarily in civil law, but eagerly transitioned into focusing her practice primarily in family law and child welfare law.  During the time she practiced civil law, she tried numerous personal-injury and medical malpractice cases.

Judge Alicia Franklin York is a skilled arbitrator that can offer an alternative dispute resolution experience that makes parties feel like they have had “their day in court” through a process called Arbitration.  Judge York’s downtown office space in Houston includes a mock courtroom!  This provides for many possibilities.  Judge York performs both in-person and virtual (Zoom) arbitrations and mediations. 

Judge York mediates and arbitrates civil matters, family matters, and guardianship matters.  Judge York is also an arbiter for the Independent Resolution team performing arbitration services for medical pay disputes referred to the Texas Department of Insurance.

Alicia Franklin York also has unique training and experience involving families dealing with addiction from her time volunteering as the District Court Judge presiding over the Harris County Family Intervention-Infant Toddler Court from 2015-2018.    Alicia Franklin York was honored when she received an appointment by Governor Gregg Abbott to the Specialty Courts Advisory Committee.

Alicia Franklin York has received training by Mediators & Arbitrators of America in Arbitration, Family Law Mediations, and Child Protective Services Mediations.  

Alicia Franklin York is married to family law attorney, Douglas York, who retired from previously serving the community as a Houston Police Officer and a Huntsville Police Officer.  Alicia and Doug have a dog named Bentley Rose who loves dock diving and chasing squirrels.    Alicia is a former college athlete, a first generation immigrant, and enjoys baking.

Education  + -

  • St. Mary’s School of Law, San Antonio, TX
    J.D.   2000 - 2003
  • Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA
    Major: Criminal Justice / Business Administration Managment || Minor: Sociology   1996 - 2000
  • Columbus High School, Waterloo, IA
    1992 - 1996
  • Texas Board of Legal Specializations
    Board Certified in Family Law   2019 & 2024
  • Texas Board of Legal Specializations
    Board Certified in Child Welfare Law   2020
  • Supreme Court of Texas
    Licensed to Practice   2003

Experience  + -

  • Franklin York Mediations PLLC
    Attorney   2019 - Present
  • Law Offices of Douglas Ray York PC
    Of Counsel   2019 - Present
  • 311th District Family Court of Harris County, Texas
    District Judge   2014 - 2018
  • Harris County Family Intervention-Infant Toddler Court
    Presiding Judge   2015 - 2018
  • Specialty Courts Advisory Committee
    Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott   2014 - 2023
  • 310th & 311th District Family Courts of Harris County, Texas
    Special Master Appointment   2010 - 2014
  • Law Offices of Alicia K. Franklin, PC
    Solo Practitioner   2009 - 2014
  • Goldapp-Rodriguez, L.L.P.
    Associate Attorney   2004 - 2009
  • Special Force Commissioner
    Appointed by County Judge of Harris County, Houston, Texas   2006
  • Law Offices of Frederick Zlotucha, San Antonio, Texas
    Law Clerk; Associate Attorney   2003; 2003 - 2004
  • Non - Subscriber Experience
    Texas Department of Insurance   2021 - Present

Memberships & Affiliations  + -

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
    2023 - Present
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
    Director; Vice President   2018; 2019 - 2021
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist
  • Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
  • State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charge Committee (Family and Probate)
    2019 - 2024
  • National Association of Women Judges
  • American Inns of Court
  • Texas Bar College
    2019 - Present
  • Texas Bar Foundation
  • American Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association (Family Law Section, Juvenile Law Section, ADR Section)
  • Houston Bar Association ADR Council, at-large council member
  • Fort Bend Bar Association (Family Law Section)
  • Houston Trial Lawyer’s Association: Trial Lawyer assigned to JFK Middle School previously
  • The 100 Club
  • Houston Realty Business Coalition
  • Texas Women Lawyers
  • St. Mary’s Alumni Association
  • Formerly Houston Area Road Runner’s Association

Honors & Awards  + -

  • Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court : "Best Presentation Overall"
    2016 - 2018
  • Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court "Best Team Presentation"
    2017 - 2018

Speaking / Authoring / Seminars  + -

Publications

Enhancing Information Sharing in Family Drug Courts: A Lean Six Sigma Case Study
Juvenile & Family Court Journal, Volume 68, Number 3
September 2017

Speaking Engagements

-Speaker on topic “Top Ten Mistakes We Make in Mediation”
Webinar    Houston Bar Association, Webcast January 2024

-Speaker on topic “Hot Topics in Free Speech Rights”
Webinar    Texas Bar CLE, Webcast March 26, 2021

-Speaker on topic “CPS Mediations”
Houston, Texas    Texas Modern Mediation Conference, January 2020

-Speaker on topic “Brady Bunch 2.0-Interesting Scenarios & Nuances regarding rights and duties”
Houston, Texas    Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court, November 2019

-Speaker on topic “The Expert, Expert Witness”
The Woodlands, Texas    Texas AFCC Conference, March 2019

-Speaker on topic “Arbitration and Special Judge Assignments”
Houston, Texas    Houston Bar Association, March 2019

-Speaker on topic “Divorce Lawyers Diaries: Bias in the Courtroom”
Houston, Texas    Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court, April 2018

-Speaker on topic “Parental Alienation”
Houston, Texas    Houston Bar Association, January 2018

-Speaker on topic “As Family Court Judges See It”
Houston, Texas    National Business Institute, December 2017

-Speaker on topic “Harris County Family Drug Court”
Houston, Texas    Family Lawyers of Texas Foundation, September 2017

-Speaker on topic “Keeping Infants and Toddlers Safe”
Houston, Texas    KITS, June 2015, June 2016, June 2017 & June 2018

-Speaker on topic “What Judges Want You to Know”
Houston, Texas    National Business Institute, December 2016

-Speaker on “Temporary Restraining Orders”
Houston, Texas    Texas Family Lawyers, 2016

-Speaker on “Alternatives when DFPS Doesn’t Follow the Rules”
Houston, Texas    4th Annual Definitive Ad Litem Seminar in DFPS Cases, April 2014