On October 3, 2023, Judge Christine Nowak was sworn in as Judge of the 493rd Judicial District Court of Collin County. She feels blessed and very thankful to have been given the opportunity to preside over Collin County’s newest court.
PROVEN JUDGE.
Judge Nowak brings significant judicial and legal experience to the bench. Prior to her appointment as Judge of the 493rd, Judge Nowak served for eight years on the federal bench as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. Known for her thorough preparation, attention to detail, and strong work ethic, Judge Nowak presided over thousands of civil and criminal matters from filing through final pretrial conference and through trial and final judgment for the federal courts.
EXPERIENCED LITIGATOR.
Before her judicial service, Judge Nowak was in private practice at major law firms Dykema and KL Gates, LLP (formerly Hughes Luce, LLP) where she focused on complex business and commercial litigation, garnering a broad array of experience advising businesses and employers in state and federal court. Judge Nowak served as Dykema’s hiring and recruiting partner in its Dallas office and was repeatedly recognized as a Texas Monthly Rising Star. She was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers in 2016 and by Baylor Law School in 2023 for her commitment to excellence and service to our community.
DISTINGUISHED STUDENT.
Judge Nowak received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University, with honors. As a 4th generation Aggie, she was heavily involved in the Student Government Association and received the highly competitive Buck Weirus Spirit Award, which recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to student life programs at Texas A&M. Judge Nowak then attended Baylor Law School and earned her Juris Doctor, with honors. During her law school tenure, she was an Associate Editor of the Baylor Law Review, a member of the Order of the Barristers, and earned an academic scholarship.
COMMUNITY LEADER.
Judge Nowak is a committed public servant, heavily involved within the bar and throughout our local community. At Baylor Law, Judge Nowak serves as a Jaworski Fellow, Adjunct Faculty Member, and President of the Baylor Law Alumni Association. She is a faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a visiting faculty member at SMU Law School. She is actively involved in the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, Women Lawyers of the Eastern District of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Collin County Bar Association, Collin County Women Lawyers Association, Dallas Bar Foundation, and Texas Aggie Bar Association. She previously served on the Editorial Board of the Federal Courts Law Review as the Fifth Circuit Representative and is a Credentialed Mediator through the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. She serves her community in various other capacities, as well, including acting as Troop Leader and Den Leader to her children’s scouting groups and as a member of the National Charity League.
MOM.
Judge Nowak calls McKinney, Texas home. She has been married to her husband, Tom Nowak, for 17 years. Theirs is a family that serves the citizens of Collin County. Judge Tom Nowak is also the Judge of the 366th District Court and a member of the United States Air Force Reserves. They have two children, and while she loves her job as a judge, her favorite, most rewarding job is being mom to a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, and a pug named Fred.
On October 3, 2023, Judge Christine Nowak was sworn in as Judge of the 493rd Judicial District Court of Collin County. She feels blessed and very thankful to have been given the opportunity to preside over Collin County’s newest court.
PROVEN JUDGE.
Judge Nowak brings significant judicial and legal experience to the bench. Prior to her appointment as Judge of the 493rd, Judge Nowak served for eight years on the federal bench as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. Known for her thorough preparation, attention to detail, and strong work ethic, Judge Nowak presided over thousands of civil and criminal matters from filing through final pretrial conference and through trial and final judgment for the federal courts.
EXPERIENCED LITIGATOR.
Before her judicial service, Judge Nowak was in private practice at major law firms Dykema and KL Gates, LLP (formerly Hughes Luce, LLP) where she focused on complex business and commercial litigation, garnering a broad array of experience advising businesses and employers in state and federal court. Judge Nowak served as Dykema’s hiring and recruiting partner in its Dallas office and was repeatedly recognized as a Texas Monthly Rising Star. She was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers in 2016 and by Baylor Law School in 2023 for her commitment to excellence and service to our community.
DISTINGUISHED STUDENT.
Judge Nowak received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University, with honors. As a 4th generation Aggie, she was heavily involved in the Student Government Association and received the highly competitive Buck Weirus Spirit Award, which recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to student life programs at Texas A&M. Judge Nowak then attended Baylor Law School and earned her Juris Doctor, with honors. During her law school tenure, she was an Associate Editor of the Baylor Law Review, a member of the Order of the Barristers, and earned an academic scholarship.
COMMUNITY LEADER.
Judge Nowak is a committed public servant, heavily involved within the bar and throughout our local community. At Baylor Law, Judge Nowak serves as a Jaworski Fellow, Adjunct Faculty Member, and President of the Baylor Law Alumni Association. She is a faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a visiting faculty member at SMU Law School. She is actively involved in the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, Women Lawyers of the Eastern District of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Collin County Bar Association, Collin County Women Lawyers Association, Dallas Bar Foundation, and Texas Aggie Bar Association. She previously served on the Editorial Board of the Federal Courts Law Review as the Fifth Circuit Representative and is a Credentialed Mediator through the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. She serves her community in various other capacities, as well, including acting as Troop Leader and Den Leader to her children’s scouting groups and as a member of the National Charity League.
MOM.
Judge Nowak calls McKinney, Texas home. She has been married to her husband, Tom Nowak, for 17 years. Theirs is a family that serves the citizens of Collin County. Judge Tom Nowak is also the Judge of the 366th District Court and a member of the United States Air Force Reserves. They have two children, and while she loves her job as a judge, her favorite, most rewarding job is being mom to a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, and a pug named Fred.