Mary L. Sinderson has practiced law since 1959. when she joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas fresh out of law. school. A graduate of Rice University, she entered law school after she was married and had two children. She obtained her J.D from the University of Houston Law Center, and later became and Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching evidence and clinical trial practice.
Ms. Sinderson was appointed the first female Assistant United States Attorney in this part of the country. Among her best-known cases while with the federal government were the death of Joe Campos Torres, the death of Randall Webster (made into a TV movie), the first criminal prosecution of a Texas Ranger, the cattle-prod torture case, the Prairie View A&M voting rights case, the foreign assets seizures of 1978. and the PATCO air traffic controller strike. She served as the Chief of the Civil Rights Division, the Chief of Civil Litigation and finally as Senior Litigation Counsel, which included tours of duty on the faculty of the U.S. Attorney General's Trial Advocacy Institute.
Ms. Sinderson left the government for private practice in 1982. In October 1996 she was featured in and exhibit at the Houston Public Library called "Women in Action - Rebels Reformers." While in private practice, some of her better known cases include the sexual harassment/race discrimination case against the U.S. EEOC, and the El Mercado del Sol tenants cases ($26.9 Million jury verdict).
She was authored several legal articles and has lectured in continuing legal education courses to her peers. She is one of the authors of
O'Connor's Federal Forms * Civil Trials (1997), and O'Connors Federal Rules * Civil Trials (1996). In addition to writing awards while and editor of the Houston Law Review, Ms. Sinderson was twice received the Civil Rights Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Justice Center Award for Civil Rights. She has taught in police academies, testified before the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and was appointed to a Special Committee on Law Enforcement Practices for the Texas Senate.
She is a member of Numerous professional organizations. has served on the Boards of several United Way Agencies, and devoted volunteer time to poverty law projects in Houston. Her practice is centered on employment and commercial litigation.
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Ronal H. Tonkin was born in Somerville, New Jersey in 1938.
He received his college
education at The American University in Washington, D.C.
receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He
received his J.D. degree from The Washington College of Law
of the American University in Washington, D.C., and attended
Georgetown University Graduate School of Law in Washington,
D.C.
While in law school he
clerked for United States Dristrict Judge Alexander Holtzoff
in Washington, D.C. After being admitted to the bar
the District of Columbia, he went to the United States
Virgin Islands to law clerk for United States District Judge
Walter A. Gordon. After admission to the Virgin Island
Bar and conclusion of his law clerkship, he went into the
private practice of law in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin
Island. He was appointed the Attorney General of the
Virgin Islands. He served on various committees of the
National Association of Attorneys General. He was
appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General of the United
States in the office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement.
Upon the disbanding of the Office of Drug Abuse Law
Enforcement, he was appointed an Assistant United States
Attorney for the Southern District of Texas in charge of
major narcotic prosecutions where he prosecuted many high
profile defendants and received the U.S. Department of
Justice Commendation for Outstanding Service Award in 1975.
After leaving the federal government service, he has
practiced law privately in Houston, Texas trying cases
throughout the United States.
Mr. Tonkin is admitted to
practice before the Supreme Court of the United States,
Supreme Court of Texas, United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the First Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States Tax Court,
United States District Court for the District of Columbia,
United States District Court for the Virgin Islands, United
States District Court for the Southern District of Texas,
United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Texas, and United States District Court for the Western
District of Texas. He is licensed to practice law in
the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, and Texas
Mr. Tonkin is married to
Phyllis Tonkin. They have four children, Michael,
Todd, Rachel, and Temple.
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