John J Sampson

John J Sampson

  • William Benjamin Wynne Professor Emeritus in Law

Faculty Profile: John J Sampson

Main Profile Content

Biography

A leading expert on Texas family law, Jack Sampson also teaches a seminar on the legislative process when the Texas Legislature is in session. One-half of his academic workload is spent teaching the classroom component of the Children's Rights Clinic, which provides attorney ad litem representation for allegedly abused and neglected children in lawsuits filed by Children's Protective Services in Travis County. He is co-author of Sampson & Tindall's Texas Family Code Annotated (West 19th Ed., 2009). He has authored many articles on Family Law, and served as the editor of the State Bar Family Law Section Report from 1976 through 2007(circulation approximately 5,000).

Professor Sampson has been extensively involved in drafting family law legislation in Texas for nearly forty years. Since 1990, he has served as reporter for the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in the drafting of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). UIFSA is one of the very few uniform acts in force in every state and territory, and the only one that is the subject of a congressional mandate. In 1997 he became the reporter for another NCCUSL project, which culminated in promulgation of the Uniform Parentage Act 2000, with amendments in 2002. To date, nine states have adopted the new UPA.

Beginning in May 2003, and culminating in November 2007, Professor Sampson was a member of the U.S. delegation to The Hague Conference for negotiations on a new Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. As a direct result, he again served as reporter for UIFSA (2008) to integrate foreign child support orders into the enforcement process in place in this country.

Professional Activities

2015

July 15, 2015

Presentation

XXXIVth International Congress on Law and Mental Health, Vienna, Austria

The Texas Approach to Mitigation of Family Conflict: Child Custody and Visitation by Statutory Prescription

2007

July 13, 2007

Presentation

University of Texas CLE

On July 13th, the University of Texas CLE presented Sampson & Tindall's 9th Biennial Family Law Legislative Update in Austin, TX.

July 12, 2007

Presentation

University of Texas CLE

On July 12th, the University of Texas CLE presented Sampson & Tindall's 9th Biennial Family Law Legislative Update in Dallas, TX.

June 27, 2007

Presentation

University of Texas CLE

On June 27th, the University of Texas CLE presented Sampson & Tindall's 9th Biennial Family Law Legislative Update in Galveston, TX.

May 3, 2007

Presentation

Conference of Community Property States

On May 3rd through the 4th, 2007, Professor Sampson presented the Texas approach to spousal maintenance, a.k.a., alimony, to the Conference of Community Property States in Las Vegas, NV.

April 28, 2007

Negotiator

ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference

The ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference was held in Monterrey, CA on April 26-27, 2007. As reporter for the Uniform Parentage Act, Professor Sampson participated in negotiations between representatives of the Uniform Law Commission and the drafters of the Model Act on Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The result was statutory language satisfactory to both sides. On April 28, he participated in a day-long mediation session attempting to resolve differences between two ABA sections regarding to a pending uniform act. The mediation did not succeed, and the uniform act remains pending.

2006

November 30, 2006

Testimony

Texas House and Senate

In Spring 2007, during the 80th Legislative Session, Professor John Sampson testified "on" to the appropriate committees in the Texas House and Senate about pending bills relating to the Texas Family Code. At the request of several legislators, he drafted suggested amendments to clarify or assist the legislative author with the statutory text.