Joan Huffman was elected on December 16, 2008 after winning a special election to fill the vacated office of Senate District 17. Prior to serving in the Senate, Huffman was twice elected Judge to the 183rd Criminal District Court, where she earned a reputation as a fair and tough enforcer of the law.

Senator Huffman has been appointed to several key committees which have a sweeping impact on the overall operation of state government.  She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee, and is a member of the State Affairs, Health and Human Services, Jurisprudence and  Higher Education Committees.  She also serves on the Select Committee on Redistricting and was named Vice Chairman of the Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus by her peers in January of 2011.

In 2009, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst appointed Huffman to serve on the  Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, charged with reviewing the functions, operations, and purpose of state agencies and to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government programs. The Commission completed reviewing 29 agencies and made recommendations to the 82nd Legislature on how to improve services and implement changes which will benefit all Texans.

Senator Huffman’s leadership has been recognized by numerous chambers of commerce, civic, and local advocacy groups.  She was named “Free Enterprise Champion” by the Associated Builders and Contractors, honored as “Legislator of the Year for Children” by the Children At Risk organization, and presented the “Legislative Leadership Award” by the Texas Chemical Council.  She also received the “Civil Justice Award” from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and the “Patient Care Champion Award” from the Harris County Medical Society.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University, and began her distinguished career in public service with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. As a secretary, Huffman was inspired by the work of the prosecutors and decided to attend law school. She took night classes at South Texas School of Law while serving as a legal intern and secretary.

Upon earning her law degree, Huffman was hired as a prosecutor and advanced from misdemeanor court to Chief Felony Prosecutor, Special Crimes Gang Prosecutor, and Legal Counsel to the Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force. She served as lead prosecutor in over 100 jury trials, including murders, sexual assaults, aggravated robberies, and sexual assaults of children: experience she now brings to her role as Vice Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee.

Senator Huffman lives with her husband, Keith, and son, Luke, in Southside Place.