Winston & Strawn Dallas Partner Steve Stodghill Named to Texas Public Safety Commission

Winston & Strawn is pleased to announce that Dallas partner Steve Stodghill has been appointed to the Texas Public Safety Commission by Governor Greg Abbott for a term running through January 1, 2024.

The Commission oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), the agency responsible for statewide planning and policy formation regarding the enforcement of criminal, traffic, and safety laws; crime prevention; and law and public safety education. With an annual budget of $1.2 billion, TxDPS employs 11,000 across 13 divisions including the Texas Rangers, Texas Highway Patrol, Driver License, Regulatory Licensing, and Intelligence and Counterterrorism. In addition, the Commission interfaces with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Department of Defense, and similar federal agencies, while advising the Governor in responding to state emergencies such as natural disasters, mass shootings, insurrections, invasions, and acts of terrorism.

Steve is the latest notable attorney to be appointed to the Commission. Recent members have included former Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson, Judge Ada Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Judge Jason Pulliam of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and former Texas Secretaries of State John Steen and Carlos Cascos.

One of the founding partners of Winston’s Dallas office, Steve has successfully represented numerous high-profile clients, ranging from prominent billionaires to major corporations, across a wide array of complex commercial litigation areas.

“Steve is one of the most accomplished and sought-after commercial litigators in the country,” said Tom Melsheimer, Winston’s Dallas Managing Partner. “This appointment is a natural evolution of his work and demonstrates his commitment to helping the community and the State of Texas.”

In addition to his legal practice, Steve is chairman of the American Film Institute National Council and board member of The University of Texas Harry Ransom Center, UT College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board, and the UT System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts Executive Board. He also is an Eagle Scout as well as a former Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America Executive Committee member.

“It’s a tremendous honor just to be considered for something such as this and to be placed in a position where you can serve the people of your state,” Steve said.

Steve received a Bachelor of Arts from UT-Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.