Judges, attorneys, court reporters, family and friends descended upon Mike Holmes’ office Friday to help him celebrate his 50th year of practicing law.
Although a member of Ector County District Court’s security detail accidentally spoiled what was supposed to be a surprise, Holmes said he was incredibly touched by the thought.
“It’s a real warm feeling,” Holmes said.
He was also tickled because his daughter, Misty, made a surprise appearance from Hutto, Texas, and his son, David, an attorney from Austin, dropped by on his way to a Colorado vacation.
Holmes, 75, was born in Lamesa, but grew up in Odessa. He attended Burnet Elementary, what used to be Hood Junior High, Permian High School and Odessa College. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas, he went to the University of Texas School of Law, graduated in 1971 and passed the state bar in 1972.
Earleen Peters, who has worked in various capacities for Holmes for 45 years, said he knew he wanted to be an attorney at the age of 8. His father, Bill, was a court reporter and friend of legendary attorney Warren Burnett, and Holmes grew up playing chess with him, Peters said.
Prior to becoming Ector County District Attorney in 1981, Holmes had worked as a tax accountant, associate attorney, law firm partner and solo practitioner.
Peters said Holmes “did an incredible job” during his four years as DA, despite having little experience in criminal law. She said he was the first district attorney to hire a woman peace officer as a DA investigator and the first to hire a female assistant district attorney.
Holmes has taught business law at Odessa College and communications law at UTPB and he has been an alternate municipal court judge since 1988.
Although he retired from family law, Holmes remains busy with criminal law, CPS cases and probate cases.
“Right now I’ve got the biggest caseload I’ve ever had other than when I was DA,” Holmes said.
Although three-quarters of his law school class have retired, he has no plans to do so anytime soon. He tries to walk six miles a day to remain physically and mentally fit.
He’s been lucky to have had such great staff members over the years and the “huge majority of the time” he enjoys the judges and the attorneys, he said.
“One thing I’ve always been appreciative of is that we can be the biggest adversaries in the courtroom, but when we leave we can still be friends,” Holmes said.
Susan Holmes, who will celebrate her 23rd wedding anniversary with Holmes on Sunday, said she knows how his career will end.
“Someday somebody is going to call me from the courthouse or his office to tell me ‘Mike just fell over and he’s dead’ because he loves what he does and I don’t see him ever stopping,” Susan said.
She was not at all surprised by the sheer number of people who came to the party.
“I think, first of all, Mike makes a good friend, but he’s also a revered attorney and you can’t ever catch him without having a good story to tell,” Susan said.
Her husband is a walking encyclopedia, she said.
“He’s an avid reader and he knows a lot about everything,” she said.
What people don’t know is just how emotionally wrapped up Holmes gets with his cases, especially those involving children in the care of Child Protective Services, Susan said.
“It’s where his heart is,” Susan said. “He wrestles with and even cries when children aren’t placed where he felt they had the best opportunity to succeed.”
Peters agreed, saying he cares about all of his clients.
“He always finds the good in people,” Susan added.
Peters said she and Holmes “clicked” from the first time they met. Although she’s had many opportunities to work elsewhere, she stayed with him because he has always been so appreciative of her work. He also doesn’t smoke, drink, cuss or chew her out when she makes mistakes, she said.
“I call her his office wife,” Susan said with a laugh. “She’s been with him longer than I have.”
Judge John Shrode of the 358th Ector County District Court said it’s unusual for attorneys to work so long.
“Mike is an excellent attorney and he’s an exemplary example of legal professionalism,” Shrode said. “It’s always an honor to have him in my court.”
