The Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award is presented by the Houston Bar Association to a woman lawyer or judge for exceptional achievement and leadership in the law. This award recognizes a record of outstanding accomplishments by a woman attorney. The award was established in 2019 and is named in honor of Justice Sondock, the first recipient, who was a trailblazer in the legal profession as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas and the first woman District Court Judge in Harris County. A nominee must have demonstrated, by conduct and character, a record of exceptional service as a role model, mentor, and advocate in the legal profession, and a lifelong commitment to professionalism. Nominees may be from a transactional or litigation practice, and nominees must be a member of the HBA.
2026 Recipient
The Honorable Sofia Adrogué
Judge, Eleventh Business Court Division
Judge Adrogué will be recognized at the 2026 HBA Annual Dinner on May 7, 2026.
Previous recipients of the Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award:
2019 - Hon. Ruby Kless Sondock
2020 – Lynne Liberato, Hon. Alice Oliver-Parrott
2021 – Susan L. Bickley
2022 – Hon. Tracy Christopher
2023 – Ann Ryan Robertson
2024 - Hon. Carolyn Dineen King
2025 – Hon. Kem Thompson Frost
