Joanna B. Mastny

lawyer@judyritts.com

I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could. My father is in the oil business, so my family moved around a lot while my brothers and I were young. We moved to Houston when I was three, and my family has been here ever since. Although I did leave Texas to attend college at Furman University, in South Carolina, I couldn’t wait to get back home. I’m pretty sure the South Carolinians were happy to get rid of me as well, after I spent four years constantly annoying them with stories of Texas. I attended law school at St. Mary’s, in San Antonio, graduating in 2003.

After working for two different law offices during law school, I decided that I wanted to do something a bit atypical at the beginning of my legal career. I joined the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps right out of law school. I thoroughly enjoyed my five and a half years serving military clients on active duty, especially providing family law assistance for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. Although some of their issues were unique to the military, for the most part, family problems are the same wherever you go. Although I remain in the Reserves, my time in the military made me want to practice family law full time so that I could see clients’ cases through to the end.

I am married to a wonderful man whose first career was in baseball. We somehow managed to get through the beginning years of our marriage in fields of work among those with the highest divorce rates. Between my time in the military and my husband’s time in professional sports, I have seen a lot of marriages end – some with almost no money or assets (other than possible future military retirement) and others with almost unbelievably large marital estates. Surprisingly, when you get down to the nitty gritty, the most important issues are usually the same. I also have two young children who alternate between enchanting me and driving me completely crazy. Whatever your situation happens to be, I know that my experience will allow me to help you with equal doses of sympathy and reality.

EDUCATION

St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
J.D. 2006, Magna Cum Laude
John Harlan Legal Honor Society
Institute on World Legal Problems, Innsbruck, Austria, 2004

Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
Bachelor of Arts, History, 2003

LICENSURE

Admitted to practice in Texas, November 2006

EXPERIENCE

October 2012 – Present
The Law Office of Judy Ritts Houston, Texas
Handle all aspects of family law cases, including divorce, child custody, paternity, child support and adoptions.

May 2009 – June 2012
U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Staff Judge Advocate for Navy Information Operations Command Georgia
Served as the sole legal advisor to the Commanding Officer of a 1200 Sailor command in the areas of military justice, ethics, personnel law and fiscal law.

April 2007 - April 2009
U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Legal Assistance Attorney and Military Defense Counsel, Fort Worth, Texas
Provided legal assistance services to active duty and military retirees for a broad range of civil legal issues including family law and estate planning. Served as military defense counsel for Sailors and Marines facing courts martial.

May 2005 – April 2006
Legal Intern for Thornton, Biechlin, Segrato Reynolds and Guerra, San Antonio, Texas
Conducted research and prepared documents for a civil law firm focused on employment and insurance law.

January 2005 – April 2005 Legal Intern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas Conducted research and prepared documents for civil law department.