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A Historic Transition on the Fourth Court of Appeals
FOURTH COURT UPDATE
By Chief Justice Rebeca C. Martinez
Starting my fifth year as Chief Justice, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving alongside fourteen fellow justices since my election to the court back in 2020. They include several remarkable women and a gentleman, each of whom contributed in multiple ways to both the bench and bar. Many still do. As the Fourth Court family moves forward with new additions to the court, it does so with gratitude for the service of the justices to whom we bid a fond farewell: Justice Luz Elena Chapa, Justice Beth Watkins, and Justice Liza Rodriguez. Their contributions will continue to resonate in the court’s work for years to come, and their influence remains an enduring part of the court’s legacy.
We also extend a warm welcome to the five justices elected to a full six-year term. All five justices were sworn in at a joint investiture held on New Years Day, January 1, 2025. Elected on November 5, 2024, the newest members of the court are Justice Velia Meza, Justice Adrian Spears, Justice Todd McCray, and Justice Lori Massey Brissette, each of whom brings a wealth of experience, legal acumen, and dedication to the judicial system. They join Justice Lori Valenzuela, who has served on the court since her appointment in January 2021 to my former seat, following my election to Chief Justice in 2020.
Justice Lori Massey Brissette got to work on July 8, 2024, following the retirement of former Justice Patricia Alvarez. She looks forward to “a big year ahead of [her] with [her] son’s wedding and a second grandbaby on the way.” She’s a new downtown San Antonio resident and enjoys having downsized, after completing the Camino de Santiago (400 miles across Portugal) and realizing that she was “happiest when [she] just had what was on [her] back.”
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law, Justice Brissette began her legal career with the second-highest score on the Texas Bar Exam and served for one year as a Briefing Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas. After ten years as a litigator and board-certified appellate practitioner, she was appointed—and then twice re-elected—as presiding judge of the 288th Civil District Court in Bexar County. Returning to practice, she served as a senior executive at USAA and CEO of a top-five U.S. investment brokerage firm. She co-led the Child Abuse & Neglect Court and Family Drug Court and helped create coalitions among churches and philanthropies to benefit jointly from the generosity of time, talent, and treasure of volunteers in the community. Recognized for her multiple contributions to the community and her commitment to creating a culture of respect and collegiality with her peers, the court welcomes her legal expertise and passion for service both in and out of the courthouse.
Justice Velia Meza, formerly Judge of the 226th District Court of Bexar County, grew up in El Paso, Texas. She went on to graduate with an Economics degree from Columbia University in New York and a law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. For sixteen years, she practiced in more than thirty counties across Texas, representing citizens accused of a crime, in both state and federal court. She brings to the court her vast trial experience in criminal, civil, and family litigation, along with criminal appellate and administrative law matters. She was elected and re-elected to two terms as presiding judge of the 226th District Court and is a staunch advocate for mentoring lawyers and law students. She is a regular speaker and author at continuing legal education seminars, and proudly serves as Adjunct Professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law and coach for the National Trial Team. She is a former board member of the Texas Center for the Judiciary and active in various bar and affinity groups. Justice Meza has been married for twenty years. They have three boys together and are members of Life Church in San Antonio.
Justice Adrian Spears is a third generation Texan, raised in a family of lawyers and judges who fostered a deep respect and passion for the law and an appreciation for public service. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and St. Mary’s School of Law. While in private practice, he represented governmental entities involved in complex litigation matters in federal and state courts across the State of Texas, from trial through appeal. He also served as a municipal court judge, prosecutor, and assistant city attorney across several cities, including Boerne, Hondo, Forney, Alpine, and Euless, TX. In his own law practice since 2012, he continued his litigation practice, representing individuals and business and governmental entities involved in complex litigation. Recognized as one of San Antonio’s Top Attorneys in civil litigation by his peers, he is also a frequent presenter at a variety of continuing legal education programs. He is respected for his thoughtful approach to the law and commitment to ensuring that all have access to fair and impartial justice. Justice Spears is married to his wife of over twenty years. They have three daughters and are members of Summit Church.
Justice Todd McCray joins the court after a distinguished thirty-year career as a lead prosecutor in Bexar and Grayson Counties, and as a defense attorney, with over one thousand criminal cases and over one hundred jury trials to his credit. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law and practices in state, federal, and appellate courts. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Finance and earned his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. As a fourth generation Texan, Justice McCray is a proud Eagle Scout, fifth generation member of the Church of Christ, and a thirty-year resident of San Antonio. Growing up from humble beginnings, he maintains strong family ties and leads with the heart of a servant. With a strong work ethic and commitment to the rule of law, Justice McCray brings a plethora of professional skills and a passion for service that will contribute to the court’s success. He, along with his colleagues, is well-positioned to bring a fresh perspective to the appellate bench and to handle the complex legal issues that arise in the Fourth Court of Appeals.
Justice Lori Valenzuela was previously the presiding judge of the 437th Criminal District Court before her appointment to the court in January 2021. In 2022, she was elected for the remaining unexpired term, and together with the four new justices, was just elected to a full six-year term. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin, adjunct professor at UTSA, and past chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary. She is married, and she and her husband are proud parents of three children.
The 2024 Election resulted in making history at the Fourth Court as—for the first time since 1981—the court welcomes five new justices elected for full six-year terms, which will expire at the end 2030.
In 1981, along with the other sister courts of appeal, the Fourth Court received criminal jurisdiction, and the legislature added four new seats (Places 4, 5, 6 and 7) to the threemember court. It also changed the court’s name from “Court of Civil Appeals for the Fourth Supreme Judicial District” to “Fourth Court of Appeals.” While the number of seats increased from three to seven, the new seats were not staggered for election purposes, so every six years, five seats are on the same ballot for a term of six years.
I believe these new justices will, together, positively contribute to what any appellate court needs for success and to earn the public’s trust—a cohort of experienced, thoughtful, and commitment individuals with strong, professional backgrounds; varying experiences and perspectives; and a shared ambition in service to a greater cause. I look forward to their leadership as we navigate the Fourth Court of Appeals through the challenges of a rapidly evolving legal landscape, while upholding the high standards of fairness, integrity, humility, and work ethic that Texans have come to expect from their judiciary.
