The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Michelle Brister has been given a chance to make a difference in the lives of Orange County children as she takes the job for assistant district attorney which was vacated when Mandy White-Rogers left to become a county court at law judge.

“I feel like I am contributing back and can give children a possible better life,” she said of her new job.

Brister began her job at the district attorney’s office on Dec. 27, 2012 and her first case is on Thursday. Not only will she be working with Judge David Dunn on Child Protective Services cases, but will work with fellow ADA Doug Manning on civil litigation cases.

“I am looking forward to learning more about the civil litigation side,” Brister said.

Brister has lived in Southeast Texas for 12 years where she had a solo practice in Beaumont and had cases such as family law, probate and cases from misdemeanors to criminal law. But, her favorite cases are the probate and CPS cases. The Texarkana native has also worked in the Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division, in Beaumont.

Cases involving children have a special place in her heart. She feels it makes her a better parent to her two children ages 6 months and 9 years old.

Before becoming an attorney Brister was a political science major. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas before going to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. While in college she interned with Congressman Jim Chapman. She had taken a journalism and social media class and transferred to George Washington University because of their outstanding program. However, she later returned to Texas and attended the South Texas College of Law where she graduated with a doctorate of judice prudence.

Cases involving children are sometimes tough on a person’s state of mind. But, at the end of the day as she goes home to her children, she can breathe a sigh of relief with another day behind her.

‘When I go home I want to be able to put my head on my pillow at night and know I did a good job,” she said.

New Assistant District Attorney Michelle Brister prepares for her upcoming cases this week. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber.