Alumni Spotlight

The Honorable Steven L. Bell

District Judge, Division X
Fifth Judicial District Court
Roswell, New Mexico

The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to present the accomplishments of The Honorable Steven L. Bell, District Judge, Division X, Fifth Judicial District Court, Roswell, New Mexico. Judge Bell is a native of Lubbock, and a 1975 graduate (BA, Political Science, French) of the College of Arts and Sciences Integrated Honors Program (a predecessor of the current Honors College).  Judge Bell's law degree is from the University of Texas  Law School (JD, 1978). Prior to his appointment, he was in private practice with the firm Atwood, Malone, Turner & Sabin, P.A., Roswell. In 2004 he was inducted into the very prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, of which there are only 40 Fellows in the State of New Mexico.  With an active docket of around 1,250 cases, he still finds time to be active in a variety of community and civic groups.

Attending and graduating from Texas Tech have been a tradition for the Bell family. His wife Sharon (Hale) Bell holds a Tech BA (1975) and MA (1976 ) in German, and their son Matt (2003) and daughter Leigh Bell Hollis (2004)  have Tech degrees in electrical and civil engineering, respectively.

Judge Bell attributes his success in law school (and by extension, his successful career) to the demands of the Texas Tech Honors curriculum. He credits especially Professors Clarke Cochran (Political Science, Emeritus), Peder Christiansen (Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures), and Wendel Aycock (English) as having strong influences upon his development as a critical thinker and master of the written word. He particularly remembers the discussion groups in which students had to take a position and defend it, not unlike the practice of law.

Judge Bell's eventual retirement plans may involve a return to his native Texas, and if so, we hope he'll consider Lubbock among his choices. It would be nice to have such a distinguished alumnus closer to home.