Judge Burgess has lived in Tarrant County since 2007 where he served as an Assistant US Attorney before being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the bench of the 352nd District Court. He is a decorated veteran of the Air Force where he served as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. His assignments included Sheppard Air Force base, and overseas bases in Kyrgyzstan and the United Kingdom.
As an Assistant US Attorney, he successfully prosecuted many high profile cases. Most recently, he was the lead counsel in the murder-for-hire conspiracy involving the public slaying in Southlake of the attorney for the head of the Gulf Cartel. He was also the lead counsel in a two-year investigation into a violent motorcycle gang.
Judge Josh and Amy Burgess have been married for 22 years and are the proud parents of a son and daughter. The Burgesses are members of Christ Chapel Bible Church. Their children attend Covenant Classical School in Ft. Worth where he coached the mock trial team to three 3rd place finishes in Texas state competition.
Judge Burgess graduated cum laude from Biola University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1997.
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1972
Born to Don and Lyn Burgess.
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1986
Moved to Corona, California where his dad served as pastor for First Baptist Corona.
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1990
Graduated high school where he excelled at tennis, theater and mock trial competition.
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1990
Enrolled in Biola University and majored in communications.
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1992
Spent semester interning for Congressman Rick Santorum & served as a volunteer for the George H.W. Bush for President campaign.
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1993
Spent summer studying at Oxford University.
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1994
Graduated from Biola University then enrolled in Washington and Lee University law school.
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1995
Married college sweetheart Amy Messer at the Marty Leonard Chapel in Fort Worth.
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1997
Graduated from Washington and Lee University law school.
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1997
Commissioned as an officer with the United States Air Force JAG Corps.
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2000
Appointed as the Area Defense Counsel.
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2000
Son Thomas was born at Sheppard Air Force Base.
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2001
Shortly after the terrorist attacks if 9/11, Josh reenlisted for an additional 3 years of military service.
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2002
Assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, UK where he served as Chief of Military Justice and Deputy Staff Advocate.
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2002
Daughter Grace was born in England.
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2002
Deployed to Kyrgyzstan where he was the sole attorney for the coalition base. Named 3rd Air Force Judge Advocate of the Year.
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2004
Promoted to Major.
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2004
Honorable discharge from the Air Force.
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2005
Became a Special Assistant US Attorney in Sherman, TX.
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2007
Hired by US Attorney Office in Fort Worth.
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2016
Successfully prosecuted international drug dealers in the infamous Southlake murder trial.
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2017
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as Judge of the 352nd District Court.
