Latinx Still Making Firsts in 2021

BY SR. JUDGE ORLINDA NARANJO AND JUDGE VICTOR VILLARREAL

Now in the third decade of the new century, persons of color continue to break barriers. Although Texas has the second highest Latinx population in the United States, prior to 2021, the state lacked a Latinx judge organization like those found in California, New York, and Illinois.

That barrier was broken on May 5, 2021, through the creation of Texas Latinx Judges (TLJ)—the first association of its kind in Texas. TLJ is a nonpartisan nonprofit association focused on empowering current and future Latinx judges. It fosters a pipeline for future Latinx judges with the goal of enhancing diversity, inclusion, and excellence in the judiciary so that equal justice is provided to all.

Another legal first in 2021, El Paso lawyer Sylvia Borunda Firth became the first Latina to be elected president of the State Bar of Texas. Firth’s experience as a former City Attorney and her service in different leadership roles with the State Bar helped her garner support from lawyers statewide. When elected, Firth stated, “It is an honor and a big responsibility to represent my culture and my gender … and bring more diversity to the State Bar.”

TLJ teaches students about the judiciary, shares distinct paths that individuals have taken to become jurists, and encourages students to consider the possibility that they too can be judges.

Both President Firth and TLJ believe that the judiciary and the State Bar reflect the rich diversity of our state and the values of our society. As president-elect, Firth created a Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to address these issues in a solution-oriented manner. One solution was creating a pipeline for diverse lawyers to become involved with State Bar board leadership.

TLJ is also committed to shaping the future of equal justice in Texas by increasing the advancement and the number of Latinx judges in Texas. TLJ encourages lawyers to join TLJ and demystifies the processes of being elected or appointed to a judicial position. TLJ also hosts events for law students across the state. TLJ teaches students about the judiciary, shares distinct paths that individuals have taken to become jurists, and encourages students to consider the possibility that they too can be judges.

TLJ’s founding officers and board of directors are diverse jurists from across the state of Texas: Judge Lesley Briones (president and former Harris County judge of County Court at Law No. 4); Judge Victor Villarreal (president elect and Webb County judge of County Court at Law No. 2); Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza (secretary and El Paso County 120th District Court judge); Chief Justice Dori Contreras (treasurer and Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals); and board members Justice Gina Benavides of the 13th Court of Appeals; Judge Antonia Arteaga, Bexar County 57th District Court; and Sr. Judge Orlinda Naranjo, former judge of Travis County 419th District Court (ret.).

These legal firsts in 2021 will help shape justice in Texas for decades to come. AL

TOP ROW (from left): Former Judge Leslie Briones, TLJ president; Judge Victor Villareal, TLJ president-elect; Judge Maria Salas- Mendoza, TLJ board member and secretary; Chief Justice Dori Contreras, TLJ board member and treasurer; BOTTOM ROW (from left): Judge Antonia Arteaga, TLJ board member; Justice Gina M. Benavides, TLJ board member; and Sr. Judge Orlinda Naranjo, TLJ board member.