Vivian R. King Biography

Vivian R. King retired from her Fortune 500 banking/Accounting career after nine years and decided to go into a profession that needed more black women—the profession of law. So at 30, Vivian went to law school and three years later graduated cum laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1992.  Vivian was licensed by the State Bar of Texas in November 1992. Vivian was a Prosecutor in Houston, Harris County, Texas from 1992 to 1995.  Vivian has been a Hearing Examiner for the City of Houston, ruling on internal grievances of police officers and firefighters. Vivian is the second black female Board Certified in Criminal Law in Texas. Vivian’s private practice was established in Houston in March of 1995, where she represented persons accused of crimes in both State and Federal Courts.  Vivian was voted Lawyer of the Year by the Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association in 2011 (the first time this award was presented to women in Texas/shared award with two other outstanding female lawyers).  Vivian was also voted as one of the most Winning Women trial lawyers by Texas Lawyer Magazine August 22, 2011. Vivian is a criminal law expert and frequent Speaker in trial skills in and around Texas. In January 1, 2017, Vivian returned home to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to assist District Attorney Kim Ogg with her vision to reform the criminal justice system so violent predators are jailed faster, victims feel safer, and taxpayers’ save money on the over use of jail for low level offenses.

Vivian is passionate about her role as a voice for victims devastated by the acts of predators. Violence destroys families and our society. Vivian reminds herself daily of the duties of a prosecutor per the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 2.01: … “It shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys, including any special prosecutors, not to convict, but to see that justice is done.  They shall not suppress facts or secrete witnesses capable of establishing the innocence of the accused.”

Vivian is a proud servant the citizens of Harris County.