Salas-Mendoza was sworn into office on January 10 as the chief justice of the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals during a ceremony at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse’s Ceremonial Courtroom in Downtown El Paso. The Texas Eighth Court of Appeals serves 17 counties.
Salas-Mendoza, a Democrat, was selected in the November general election. She ran unopposed. She became the highest-ranking state judicial officer in El Paso and West Texas
A graduate El Paso public school, Salas Mendoza graduated from Harvard University and UCLA Law School. She began her legal career in California in 1994 but soon returned to Texas where she worked as a staff attorney at the El Paso Legal Assistance Society and later as an assistant county attorney focusing on civil defense work. In 2006 she was elected to the District Court where she served for 18 years
According to former Texas 13th Court of Appeals Justice Gina M. Benavides, who administered the oath of office to Salas-Mendoza, “Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza epitomizes public service in all that she does,” “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.”
Salas-Mendoza served in numerous positions. She has served as president of the El Paso Bar Association, was a recipient of the Texas Women Lawyers Pathfinder Award, was 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. She has received numerous civic awards and honors.
“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.”
More than 100 people attended the emotional, hour long 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.