A caring mentor and an El Pasoan who has served her community for more than two decades was honored during an investiture ceremony as Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza became the highest-ranking state judicial officer in El Paso and West Texas.
Salas-Mendoza was sworn into office as the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals chief justice during a ceremony Friday, Jan. 10, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse’s Ceremonial Courtroom in Downtown El Paso. The Texas Eighth Court of Appeals serves 17 counties, including El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Pecos and Presidio. Salas-Mendoza will preside over criminal and civil appeal cases.
The new chief justice has long served the El Paso community, most recently serving 18 years as judge of the 120th District Court. Salas-Mendoza, a Democrat, was elected as the chief justice of the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals in the November general election. She ran unopposed.
Maria Salas-Mendoza smiles to friends and family before being sworn into office as the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals chief justice at the Enrique Moreno Courthouse on Jan. 10, 2025
“It’s always been an important part of what I do,” said Salas-Mendoza, an alumnus of Ascarate Elementary School, Riverside Middle School and Riverside High School. “I’m very proud of the fact that I’m an El Paso native. I was raised here and I went through public schools.
“I had the best of what a student can ask for in terms of support. That is really what got me to Harvard. That’s what got me to UCLA law school. I represent this community. I am this community and it’s important in this role to never forget that.”
More than 100 people attended the emotional, hourlong ceremony, including Texas appeals justices, state district court judges, El Paso county leaders, prominent local lawyers, Salas-Mendoza’s family and friends and El Paso community members.
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“It’s emotional largely because it’s really tied with my mother,” said Salas-Mendoza, whose mother passed away in December. “I really love the trial bench. I love doing that work and I really only decided to move to this bench because it’s different kind of work. This would be the opportunity to be home with her more, to not worry so much that I had to be at work. This was a way to better be able to just be there whenever she needed me and to still continue to do the work.
“It’s a bittersweet moment. An emotional moment. It’s an important moment for a lot of reasons. It’s important that I continue my own legal growth and development and continue to serve our community.”
Salas-Mendoza legacy of mentoring woman
The speakers at the ceremony fought back tears as they proudly spoke of the impact Salas-Mendoza has and will continue to have on them and the community.
“Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza epitomizes public service in all that she does,” said former Texas 13th Court of Appeals Justice Gina M. Benavides, who administered the oath of office to Salas-Mendoza. “On the bench or in her personal life or serving on a committee, she doesn’t look to see how it benefits her, but what is best for those around her, for those who come before her, for the community and for the community of justice.”
The legacy Salas-Mendoza has built since she began her legal career in California in 1994 is one of mentoring the future generation of lawyers — especially women.
Friends and family of Maria Salas-Mendoza listen to her speech after becoming the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals chief justice during a ceremony at the Enrique Moreno Courthouse on Jan. 10, 2025
“The chief has worked hard to be a role model for women in the law,” former El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal said. “She has encouraged women to seek judicial and public policy positions. Many of the women in this room are women that are her friends and who she has mentored.
“As a young woman, she navigated a profession that has not always welcomed young women, and yet she has excelled, earning respect and admiration from her peers. Now she ascends to one of the highest judicial offices in our state.”
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Salas-Mendoza served on numerous organizations, including as the former president and founder of Texas Latinx Judges, former District 11 Director of the National Association of Women Judges, and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Diversity in the Judiciary. She will continue her efforts to help women achieve their goals in the legal profession.
“It’s an intentional thing that I have done over the years to mentor women and to reach out because I didn’t always have that,” Salas-Mendoza said. “I had role models, but I really had to intentionally seek them out. So I try to make it easy and try to make myself available because I really do believe whether it’s a kindergartener who doesn’t believe they can read or they’re not good at math, or a lawyer who’s getting ready to give it up that it only takes one person to say, ‘no, you can do it. You can do it.’ I know this because that’s how I continued in my path. And so, I really look for those opportunities all the time.”
Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso judge sworn in as Texas Eighth Court of Appeals chief justice