As reported in Texas Monthly magazine, James N. Higdon was selected by fellow attorneys across Texas as a SuperLawyer, one of the top 5% of Texas lawyers. Read more. Appellate Cases of James N. Higdon

B.A.(Math/Hist), University of Texas, Austin, TX (1967).

M.B.A.(Econ/Mgmt), University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL (1973).

J.D., St. Mary's University, School of Law, San Antonio, TX (1975).

Partner, Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P.

State Bar of Texas (1976-): Current Member, Sections on Family Law, Litigation, Military Law and ADR; Member, Texas Bar Journal Committee (1980-96).

Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1981; Recertified, 1986, 1991, 1996).

Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1996).

San Antonio Bar Association: Member (1976-); Director (1992-94); Founding Chair, SABA Family Law Section (1992-); Chair, CLE Committee (1990-1992).

San Antonio Family Lawyers Association: Member (1982-); President (1988-89); Officer/ Director (1986-1990).

Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists: Member (1982-).

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow (1994-).

Matrimonial Arbitrator, AAML Trained & Certified (1995-).

San Antonio Bar Foundation, Fellow (1992-).

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow (1996-).

Associate Member (Mediator), Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR)(1993-).

Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center, Member, Board of Directors (1997- )

Panel of Pre-Suit Mediators, San Antonio Bar Association (1992-).

Member, Panel of Settlement Week Mediators, State District Courts in San Antonio (1988-).

Author and Speaker: American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas; San Antonio, Travis County, Val Verde County and Victoria County Bar Associations; San Antonio Family Lawyers Association; San Antonio College; public school classes, military, civic and other groups.

Marquis' Who's Who in American Law (1991-).

"AV" Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (1992-).

Honored Member, Strathmore Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders (1995-).

Honored Member, Foxington's Who's Who (2000-).

Settlement Consultants, Inc. -- Mediator Training Managing Commercial Conflicts Through Mediation (40 hrs., 9/92). Family Dynamics (24 hrs., 10/93).

Military and Civil Service Retirement Plans, Family Law for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, Stromar Educational Services, Inc., January 26, 2000, San Antonio, Texas.

Military and Civil Service Retirement Plans, 25th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, August 16-19, 1999, Dallas, Texas.

Overview of Military Benefits, Basic Family Law Seminar, San Antonio Bar Association and SABA Family Law Section, June 19, 1997, San Antonio, Texas.

Military Retirement-An Update, 1997 20th Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, May 8-9, 1997, Dallas, Texas.

Military/Civil Service Family Law: Getting the QDRO's Right, American Bar Association 1997 Mid-Year Meeting, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section, Military Law Committee, January 31, 1997, San Antonio, Texas.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act and Military Retirement, Val Verde County Bar Association, December 13, 1996, Del Rio, Texas.

Drafting To Incorporate Changes in Military and Federal QDRO's, 1995 Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, December 14-15, 1995, San Antonio, Texas.

Division of Military Retirement Benefits, San Antonio Bar Association Afternoon CLE, October 20, 1994, San Antonio, Texas.

Voluntary Separation Benefit Programs, San Antonio Bar Association Military Law Section, February 25, 1993, San Antonio, Texas; Travis County Bar Association, May 5, 1993, Austin, Texas; as revised, presented to Victoria County Bar Association, May 17, 1993, Victoria, Tx, and published in 21 The SALSA Summons No. 2 at 26 (June 1993) (Publication of San Antonio Legal Secretary's Association).

Using The Soldiers' And Sailors' Civil Relief Act To Stay Civil Proceedings, American Bar Association's Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) Seminar, January 21, 1993, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Survivor Benefit Plan And Other Military Benefits, San Antonio Family Lawyers Association, January 14, 1993, San Antonio, Texas; also published in 20 The SALSA Summons No. 9 at 9 (February 1993).

Military/Fringe Benefits, How Retirement/Employee Benefits Affect You and Your Clients Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, February 20-21, 1992, Austin/Dallas, Texas.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, 17th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, August 19, 1991, Dallas, Texas.

Family Violence Protective Orders, Domestic Law in Texas Seminar, National Business Institute, Inc., May 16, 1991, San Antonio, Texas.

Military Retirement, Active and Reserve, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, December 14, 1990, San Antonio, Texas.

Military Retirement Notes, 1 Family Law Forum No. 3 (Dec. 1, 1988). (Method for calculation of Reserve Military Retirement.) (Publication of Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists).

Supreme Court of Texas (1976).

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas (1978).

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1979).

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (1979).

U.S. Supreme Court (1979).

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas (1980).

Captain, U. S. Naval Reserve (Ret.) - 24 years commissioned service (US Navy 1967-1973; US Naval Reserve 1973-1991).

Designated Naval Aviator No. V-27972 (February 20, 1969).

Last Billet before retirement: Commanding Officer, NR AVT-16 Lexington 1010, Naval Reserve Center and aboard USS Lexington (AVT-16), Pensacola, FL. (1990-1991).

Naval Reserve Association: Life Member (1977-); Alamo Chapter (President, 1981-83; Officer, Director 1978-1983); Eighth District (Vice-President JAG 1989-93; Vice-President Chapter Activities 1980-1982).

San Antonio Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) (1980-1992), Chairman (1989-1991).

Navy League of the United States, Alamo Council (1989-).

The Retired Officers Association, Life Member (1992-).

San Antonio Retired Officers Association, (1992-), Life Member (1993-).

Military Awards: Navy Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1 silver star (5 campaigns), National Defense Service Medal, Pistol Expert Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (w/ 4 bronze stars), Navy Recruiting Ribbon, Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon.

San Antonio, Texas Oak Hills Rotary Club: (1978-); President (1991-92); Director(1986-93); Paul Harris Fellow (1987-); Paul Harris Benefactor (1991-).

Rotary International District 5840: District Secretary (1992-1993).

Alamo Masonic Cemetery Corporation: Member, Board of Directors; Vice-President (05/90--); Treasurer (03/86--05/90).

City of San Antonio, Texas AIDS/HIV Commission: Commissioner (1990-1993).

Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center, Member, Board of Directors (1997-).

San Antonio Public Library Foundation, Member, Board of Directors (1997-).

San Antonio, Texas Masonic Bodies: Past Presiding Officer of: Alamo Lodge #44, A.F.&A.M. (1980-81); Blue Bonnet Chapter #470, R.A.M. (1983-84); Blue Bonnet Council #409, R.&S.M. (1984-85); San Antonio Commandery #7, K.T. (1992); Texian York Rite College #60 (1994-95); San Antonio Council #261, Allied Masonic Degrees (Charter Member) (1997-98); Alamo Camp, Heroes of '76 (1999-2000); San Antonio Consistory of the San Antonio Scottish Rite Bodies (2000). Elected Progressive Line Officer of Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Texas (1996-). Also member of San Antonio Scottish Rite Bodies; Alzafar Shrine; Fort Sam Houston Chapter, National Sojourners, Inc. (Elected Line Officer 1999-); St. Anthony Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine (Elected Line Officer 1997-); Texas Council #45, Order of Knight Masons (Charter Member), and other appendent/related masonic bodies. Endowed member of Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery, College, Scottish Rite and National Sojourners, Inc.

Member, Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas.

Born October 20, 1944, McAlester, Oklahoma.

Married to former Barbara Ann Downing of Eagle Pass, Texas and have two sons, Travis, a web developer and entrepreneur living in Austin, and Andrew, an accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Dallas. All are graduates of The University of Texas at Austin.

©2006 Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht