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The Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosted a celebration of life for the Hon. Sam Sparks, former U.S. District judge, on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.
Judge Sparks, who served in the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas, passed away on Sept. 17, 2025, at the age of 85.
The celebration of life, which took place in the Austin Federal Courthouse, started with a call to order by John Hall, former court security officer for Judge Sparks.
Annette French, former courtroom deputy for Judge Sparks, next introduced the guests in attendance.
The Hon. Elizabeth “Betsy” Chestney, U.S. magistrate, and Matt Harding, of counsel at Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody, gave remarks. Both Chestney and Harding were former law clerks for Judge Sparks.
Next, Sean Petrie, a senior lecturer at the University of Texas School of Law and a former law clerk for Judge Sparks, read a poem, “Ode to Judge Sparks.”
Dicky Grigg next gave remarks, and the program was concluded with remarks from U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.
The celebration’s program gave particular gratitude to Judge Sparks’ former staff:
Annette French
John Hall
Linda Mizell
Lilly Reznik
Margaret Sims
And the program listed each of Judge Sparks’ former law clerks:
Brittany Artimez
Todd Bellaire
John Bray
Hon. Betsy Chestney
Katherine Chiarello
Shayna Cook
Carole De Onis
Tecuan Flores
Matt Harding
Christie Mason Hebert
Keith Henneke
Fraser Holmes
Nina Hess Hsu
James Hughes
Ketan Kharod
Ashley Kissinger
Austin Krist
Ed McHorse
Lisa Paulson
Sean Petrie
Matt Powers
Kathleen Pritchard
Meg Kirkendall Rein
Emilie Sebesta
Claire Seitzman
Michael Selkirk
Will Snyder
Courtney Stewart
Karson Thompson
Marc Vockell
James Weiss
Jamie Whitney
The program also featured various “Sparks-isms,” or quotes from Judge Sparks that were memorable:
“The non-complexity of this matter is very simple.”
“The smoking gun turned out to be a cold pickle.”
“That smell doesn’t pass the fish test.”
“That has about as much relevance to this case as a pink elephant jumping over the UT Tower.”
“I’m not going to get reversed on a guess, they usually reverse me on principle.”
“You two lawyers are like two cats fighting over one sardine.”
Also at the celebration of life, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the door of the jury assembly room at the federal courthouse.
“In grateful remembrance of Judge Sparks’ distinguished career as a trial lawyer, trial judge, and mentor to many. His steadfast dedication to the jury system, the rule of law, and the highest standards of his profession left an indelible mark on this Court and on the many lives he touched.”
ODE TO JUDGE SPARKS
By Sean Petrie
Sept. 25, 2026
He could make you feel
Like you didn’t have a choice—
When he lowered his gaze
And put on his JUDGE
VOICE
But behind that scowl
Was a nobler intent
He wanted to push you
See where you went
Whether trying a case
Or as his clerk
He wanted us all
To ADMIRE our work
Because damn, he sure did
He believed that The Law
Was a true, higher calling—
And wanted the same for us
all
He never shied away
From any legal schism
He could bring the
courtroom to tears
With a quick Sparksism
He could work some poetry
Into an opinion—
Law didn’t have to be
A boring dominion
But above all else
He wanted to be fair
To him a COMPETENT
attorney
Was beyond compare
Sometimes I wonder
With all the division today
I wish I knew
“What would Judge say?”
But I think that’s the point
One of the things he’s shown—
He gave us the skills
To handle it, on our own
A judge and mentor
A teacher and friend
Nearly every single day
He comes back to us, again
I hear his JUDGE VOICE–
“What do YOU think, Sean?”
Then I see his Judge Smile
And know he’s never
Truly gone.
