U.S. District Judge, Jason Kenneth Pulliam, Pays Student's Tuition

December 6, 2019

St. Philip’s College welcomed U.S. District Judge, Jason Kenneth Pulliam as the keynote speaker for Fall 2019’s Commencement Ceremony Friday, December 13, 2019, at the Freeman Coliseum - 3201 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, TX.

The evening featured Student Commencement Speaker, Terrance Johnson. Terrance shared his journey leading up to graduation and spoke on his experience with homelessness. After working 10+ years as an Orthodontic Assistant, he decided to leave the workforce and pursue an education in hopes of obtaining a financially secure future. 

At 25, Terrance was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia. In Fall 2017, he had his left hip replaced. Due to his health issues, Terrance has taken out loans to continue towards achieving his goal of obtaining an education.

When keynote speaker U.S. District Judge, Jason Kenneth Pulliam, delivered his speech, he announced he will be paying Terrance’s fall outstanding tuition balance.

Pulliam was born in 1971 in Brooklyn. He earned a B.A. in political science, cum laude, from the City University of New York - Brooklyn College in 1995, an M.A. in political science from the City University of New York - Brooklyn College in 1997 and a J.D., cum laude, from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 2000.

In law school, Pulliam served on the law review. After his graduation, Pulliam spent three years as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps.After leaving the Marines, Pulliam spent the next six years as an associate in private practice, moving between The Carlson Law Firm, Ball & Weed P.C. and Ford & Murray PLLC. In 2011, Pulliam became a Judge with the Bexar County Court of Law No. 5. In 2015, he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry as a Justice on the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals.

In 2016, Pulliam joined the law firm of Prichard & Young as he was considered for appointment to his current post as United States District Judge to the San Antonio Division in the Western District of Texas. On March 5, 2019, President Donald Trump nominated Pulliam for appointment as a U.S. District Judge.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Pulliam on July 31, 2019, and he received his commission to the bench on August 5, 2019.Pulliam was the first African American Republican to be a Bexar County judge when he was appointed in 2011. He then became the first African American to sit on the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals and, now is the first African American to hold a bench on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.To learn more about the Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremony, click here