Ryan Patrick serves as Chief Executive Officer of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), where he leads the organization’s mission to protect Texas jobs, strengthen economic growth, and defend a fair, efficient, and predictable civil justice system.
Patrick brings a rare end-to-end perspective on the legal system, having served as a state felony prosecutor, a Texas district court judge, and United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. During his tenure at the Department of Justice from 2018 to 2021, he led one of the largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the nation, overseeing federal criminal prosecutions, civil enforcement actions, and appellate litigation across a region central to the Texas economy.
Before his federal service, Patrick was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the 177th District Court, becoming the youngest district judge in Texas at the time. During his over four years on the bench, he presided over more than 100 jury trials and built a reputation for fairness, discipline, and fidelity to the law as written. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County, including in the Special Crimes and Major Offenders Division, where he handled complex and high risk prosecutions involving violent crime and organized criminal activity.
After leaving federal service, Patrick returned to private practice, representing individuals and companies in complex civil and criminal matters in both federal and state courts.
Patrick earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston.