Meet the Leaders Behind Justice Forward
CEO/President Devon Anderson
Devon Anderson has devoted her career to public service. She was a prosecutor for 12 years at the Houston DA’s office and tried over 100 felony jury trials. In 2005 she was elected to serve as State District Judge in the 177th Criminal District Court. While serving as District Judge, Devon also volunteered her time to preside over one of four STAR Drug Courts. In 2009 Devon left the bench and started her own criminal defense firm. At the end of 2012, Devon ended her practice when her husband was elected Harris County District Attorney. In 2013, Devon was appointed Harris County District Attorney to succeed her late husband, Mike Anderson. After serving in that position for over three years, Devon transitioned from the legal profession to nonprofit work. She became the CEO of Justice Forward in 2019 and expanded its assistance from four Houston Specialty Courts to 23 courts in three counties. She also serves as Board Chair of the Party Sober Partnership. This work is ideal for Devon who celebrates every day of her 16 years of sobriety.
Program Director Mary Covington
Mary Covington is a retired employee of the Harris County District Courts, having served for 19 years until her retirement in August 2022. Throughout her tenure in Harris County, Mary played a crucial role in establishing various diversion initiatives. In 2003, she became the first coordinator for the Harris County Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Court Program. Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion as the Specialty Courts Program Manager in 2009, where she collaborated with Judge Marc Carter to establish the first Veterans Specialty Court in Texas. In addition to her supervisory responsibilities for the felony Specialty Courts, Mary took on the role of Court Manager for Harris County Responsive Interventions for Change docket in 2016. This docket specifically focuses on providing treatment opportunities to the 4500-5000 offenders charged with possession of a controlled substance each year in Harris County. Mary’s contributions to Specialty Courts and the recovery community have been widely recognized, earning her numerous awards like the Justice For Vets; Hank Parowski Award awarded in 2015, and the inaugural Mary Covington Award for Outstanding Specialty Court Team Member awarded by the Texas Association of Specialty Courts in 2016.
Executive Assistant Leah Dozier
Leah Dozier, a graduate from the Conrad Hilton College at the University of Houston, has worked in prestigious hotels and restaurants across the United States. Leah started her career in hospitality at a young age, helping her father at a private club. She worked at a local Italian Café for 10 years while advancing her education in the industry. She participated in Starwood’s Hotel and Resorts Intern program and worked at The St. Regis in Houston. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, she managed the food and beverage department at a convention hotel in Dallas, handling events like the Superbowl and NBA All-Star Game. She then joined a team at The Helmsley Hotel in Manhattan for renovations and brand transition. Leah became an Assistant General Manager at The Original Palm Restaurant in Manhattan and later moved to Houston to become the first female Assistant General Manager and then General Manager of The Houston Palm Restaurant.
Board of Directors
Deborah Keyser
Board Chair
Martha Araujo-Barrera
H-E-B
Cathy L. Easter
Houston Methodist
Ned Evans
Evans and Evans Investments
Dr. Kathy C. Flanagan
Psychiatrist
Saudria Gray
Shell
Kayla Hansen Heap
Main Street Capital Corporation
Patrick Keegan
Real Estate
Cathryn Martinez
Calpine
Donna McCullough
Veritex Community Bank
Rev. Patrick Miller
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Eric Reed
The Reed Law Firm
Phillip Schneidau
Woodbranch Management, Inc.
Ashley Smith
The Macquarie Group, Ltd.
Kathleen Spangler
Unite Us
Paula Sutton
Morgan Stanley Wealth
Jill Williams
Real Estate Trustee
Court Alliance Council
This advisory body is made up of representatives from each of the court groups. They submit requests for assistance on behalf of their clients, meet quarterly to share best practices and resources and provide court updates to the Board of Directors.
- Valdemar Balderas, Program Director Misdemeanor Treatment Court, (Fort Bend County)
- Kelly Barron, Special Project Coordinator, Juvenile Specialty Courts (Harris County)
- Michelle Barnett, Program Coordinator, Veterans Treatment Court (Harris Co.)
- Marilyn Carpenter-Lewis, Program Director, Felony Mental Health Court (Fort Bend County)
- Drue Gaines, Program Director, Felony Mental Health Court (Harris County)
- Monica Jones, Program Director, HOPE Drug Court and the Felony Mental Health Court (Galveston County)
- Perla Khan, Supervisor, SOBER Court (Harris County)
- Keith Liles, Program Manager and Clinical Director, STAR Drug Court (Harris County)
- Ashlen Torres, Program Director, CORE Court (Fort Bend County)
