A woman judge from Afghanistan who fled Taliban rule last year arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth June 3 to serve a one-year visiting research scholar jointly at Texas A&M University School of Law and South Texas College of Law Houston.
Judge H — who is remaining anonymous publicly to protect her identity —will contribute to the schools’ scholarship and discussions on topics including the geopolitical situation in Afghanistan, to international law, to counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics law.
“I am very excited to share my experience on the Afghanistan courts with the students and faculty at STCL Houston and Texas A&M Law,” Judge H said. “I am so thankful to those who made this opportunity possible and look forward to being a part of the law school communities.”
Judge H was a judge on Afghanistan’s Counter-Narcotics Justice Center Court. She also served as a judge on a specialized court within the Afghanistan Supreme Court, focusing on foreign and domestic terrorism. In these roles, she sentenced many Taliban members and affiliates to prison. Judge H is passionate about the rule of law, women’s rights and women’s education, and she intended to dedicate her entire career to public service.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, however, she and her family were forced to flee the country because her career made her a target for retribution. The Taliban made several threats against judges on the Counter-Narcotics Court, and have been targeting women in positions of power ever since.
After Judge H left Afghanistan, attorneys at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acting pro bono worked with administrators at South Texas College of Law Houston and Texas A&M Law to bring Judge H and her family to the United States on student visas.
Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development Huyen Pham helped coordinate the joint appointment for Judge H. “Texas A&M Law is delighted to welcome Judge H and her family to our law school community," Pham said. "We look forward to learning from her rich knowledge and professional experiences, to better understand the challenges of establishing the rule of law, both inside and outside of Afghanistan.”
STCL Houston President and Dean Michael F. Barry said the diverse South Texas community will warmly welcome Judge H and will enjoy learning about her distinctive legal experiences in Afghanistan. “Judge H brings a unique perspective on some timely and important issues,“ Barry said. “Her engagement with our community will be valuable for our students and faculty.”