Rodney Townsend Jr graduated from Bridge City High School in 1989. He was awarded a full athletic scholarship to play football at Brigham Young University. After an injury derailed his football career, he returned to Southeast Texas and graduated from Lamar University. Rodney went on to attend law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston, where he obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Upon graduation from law school, Rodney was hired by a nationally recognized firm specializing in civil litigation. In 2003, he came back to Orange County and went to work for Barton, Price & McElroy, later becoming Barton, Price, McElroy & Townsend. After Hurricane “Ike” destroyed the firm’s building, Rodney took a bold step and started his own law practice in Orange. In 25 years of practice, he has stood beside both plaintiffs and defendants in civil matters, represented parties in divorces and other family law cases, criminal cases, probates, and drafting of wills and contracts. Rodney has served as ad litem to protect the interest of minors. He is a certified mediator. Rodney has mediated over 1000 cases for other lawyers. He is appointed by Judges throughout Southeast Texas to serve in that capacity.

Rodney is admitted to practice law in all Courts of the State of Texas, Federal Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the Jefferson County Bar Association (former board member). Certified by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum as a mediator. He has been selected to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Recognized as the Best Lawyer in Orange County by the readers of the Orange Leader multiple times. A supporter/volunteer of Special Angels Rodeo, Adaptive Sports for Kids, the local Ministerial Alliances, Meals on Wheels (Board Member), United Way, the Salvation Army, and the American Cancer Society to name a few. Rodney is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, Ducks Unlimited (DU), and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA).

In 2023, Rodney embarked on a new journey, filing to run for Judge of the County Court at Law #2 in Orange County. His dedication and hard work paid off when he ran unopposed in the 2024 Republican Primary. With no opponent in the November 2024 election, Rodney is set to be sworn in to take the bench on January 1, 2025.

Rodney is married to Amy Townsend, (Judice) M.D. (BC class of 1994). She is a physician with her office in Bridge City. Together, they have one daughter, Alexandria(BC Class of 2017).


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