Where We Started

In the Summer of 2014, with the advent of the newly formed Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) and the elimination of the Court Reporters Certification Board (CRCB), two freelance reporters concluded it was time for the one-third rule to go.   For those unfamiliar, the one-third rule was a restriction inserted into the Code of Ethics which limited freelance reporters to charging no more than one-third of the cost of the original transcript for a copy. 

Art Richardson and Mike Clepper made it their quest to unleash freelance reporters from this constraint that had shackled them for 25 years.   Their first action was to form a committee to support them in their endeavor.  They sought other like-minded individuals and filled out their committee with eight additional freelance reporters.  They called themselves the One-Third Rule Committee. With the committee in place, they requested a meeting with the Texas Court Reporters Association leadership to discuss eliminating or modifying this rule.   TCRA denied the meeting request. 

Undeterred, they pooled their funds together and sought legal advice.  They consulted former Texas Supreme Court Justice Craig Enoch who advised them to form an association if they wanted to be taken seriously.  So that is precisely what they did.  With just ten members, they established a new association they named the Texas Deposition Reporters Association (TEXDRA) and took their case to the JBCC.  

TEXDRA faced a tremendous amount of opposition but stayed the course.  Three years after the One-Third Rule Committee and then TEXDRA were formed, the rule was eliminated.  
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This fledgling, unlikely association that sprung from the minds of two individuals who believed a wrong had been perpetrated on freelance reporters, eight years after its formation, now boasts a membership of close to 500 and is a force with which to be reckoned. 

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TEXDRA extends its profound appreciation to our members for your unwavering faith and support. 
​Without you, we would be just a voice in the wind.

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PAST BOARDS

2015 – 2017 BOARD
Susan Perry Miller, President
Kelly Hanna, VP/President-elect
Kim Tindall, Secretary/Treasurer (2015-2016)
Rene W. Moarefi, Secretary/Treasurer (2016-2017)
Immediate Past President – none
David Ross, Director
Micheal Johnson, Director
Art Richardson, Director
Vicki McNaughton, Director
Mike Clepper, Director  

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​​2018 – 2019 BOARD
David Ross, President
Kelly Hanna, VP/President-elect
Sue Perry Scott, Immediate Past President
Janice McMoran, Secretary
Rene’ White Moarefi, Treasurer (non-voting)
Karen Usher, Director
​Rebecca Callow, Director
Michael Buie, Director
Teri Nunley, Director
Angie Lozano, Director​


2020 – 2021 BOARD
Kelly Hanna, President
Karen Usher, VP/President-elect
David Ross, Immediate Past President
Rebecca Callow, Secretary
Rene’ White Moarefi, Treasurer (non-voting)
Donna Collins, Director
Cindy Hyatt, Director
Vonda Treat, Director
Lucile Wyatt, Director
Suzanne Kelly (resigned)/Tamara Chapman, Director


2022-2023 BOARD
Karen Usher, President
Lucile Wyatt, VP/President-elect
Kelly Hanna, Immediate Past President
Rene’ White, Secretary-Treasurer (non-voting)
Vonda Treat, Director
Karen Schoeve, Director
Terri Nelson, Director
Trisha Myler, Director
Christy Cortopassi, Director
​Yvette Perrodin, Director
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​2024-2025 BOARD
Lucile Wyatt, President
Rene White, President-elect
David Ross, Immediate Past President
Yvette Perrodin, Secretary
Trisha Myler, Director
Christy Cortopassi, Director
Jennifer Murphy, Director
Lisa Flowers-Demoe, Director
​Christy Fagan, Director

​2017 – 2018 BOARD
David Ross, President
Kelly Hanna, VP/President-elect
Susan Perry Miller, Immediate Past President
Rene’ White Moarefi, Secretary/Treasurer
Art Richardson, Director
Janice McMoran, Director
Rebecca Callow, Director
Angie Lozano, Director
Karen Usher, Director 
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​2019-2020 BOARD
Kelly Hanna - President
Karen Usher - VP/President-Elect
David Ross - Immediate Past President
Janice McMoran - Secretary
Rene’ White Moarefi - Treasurer (non-voting)
Mike Buie, Director
Teri Nunley, Director
Rebecca Callow, Director
Donna Collins, Director
Cindy Hyatt, Director


2021-2022 BOARD
Karen Usher, President
Lucile Wyatt, VP/President-elect
Kelly Hanna, Immediate Past President
Rene’ White Moarefi, Secretary-Treasurer  (non-voting)
Vonda Treat, Director
Tamara Chapman, Director
Penny Pabitsky, Director
Karen Schoeve, Director
Terri Nelson, Director
Trisha Myler, Director


​2023-2024 BOARD
Lucile Wyatt, President
Rene White, VP/President-elect
David Ross, Immediate Past President
Yvette Perrodin, Secretary
Vonda Treat, Director
Trisha Myler, Director
Christy Cortopassi, Director
Jennifer Murphy, Director
Lisa Flowers-Demoe, Director

           IMPORTANT DATES

• 5/26/2015 formational board was appointed
• 4/12/2016 Janice McMoran appointed Secretary/Treasurer
• 9/1/2016 Rene’ White Moarefi appointed Secretary/Treasurer
• 7/2017 Karen Usher appointed to fill unexpired term of Mike Clepper (deceased)
• 7/2018 Secretary/Treasurer positions were split & Treasurer became non-voting, unlimited term position
• 10/2020 Tamara Chapman appointed to fill unexpired term of Suzanne Kelly
• 9/2021 Penny Pabitsky appointed to fill unexpired term of Lucile Wyatt
• ​10/2023 David Ross appointed to fill unexpired term of Karen Usher