JUSTICE DORI

March 28, 2017

Press Release: Justice Dori Contreras Announces Candidacy for Chief Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals

 

EDINBURG (March 27, 2017) – Justice Dori Contreras recently announced that she will seek election to the Chief Justice of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals position in 2018.

 

The announcement comes on the heels of Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez announcing he will retire at the end of his term in 2018. “I thank Chief Justice Valdez for his years of dedicated service to the Court as its leader and as my colleague, mentor, and friend,” says Justice Contreras.  “After nearly fifteen years of serving with Chief Justice Valdez as a justice, it is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I seek election to follow in his footsteps and maintain the legacy of fairness and efficiency that the 13th Court of Appeals enjoys.”

The judicial duties and responsibilities of chief justice do not differ from that of a justice; however, the chief justice has the added responsibility for administration of the Court and its budget.  “My years of service on the Court, coupled with my accounting degree and experience, make me the most qualified candidate to seek this position.  In addition to disposing of cases in a just and efficient manner, I have assisted Chief Justice Valdez with numerous administrative matters and will continue to do so as he completes his current term.”

 

The Thirteenth Court of Appeals serves twenty counties throughout South Texas and the Coastal Bend with offices in Edinburg and Corpus Christi. “For several years, I have contemplated succeeding Chief Justice Valdez, and I am fully prepared to serve as his successor.  Because of my many years of service on the Court and familiarity with its procedures, the transition will be seamless.  I will have no learning curve.”

 

“Experience matters in the important Chief Justice role,” says retired Fourth Court of Appeals Chief Justice Catherine Stone. “Justice Contreras has the intelligence, temperament, and experience to lead the 13th Court of Appeals to its next chapter of judicial excellence.”

 

Justice Contreras was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and also raised three children there. She has served on several organizations in the community and throughout the state.  Recently, she relocated to Corpus Christi.  “Being there puts me closer to Coastal Bend constituents and communities.  It also enables me to work closely with the Clerk of the Court, who offices in Corpus Christi.” After graduating from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in 1976, she enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in Accounting. She worked as an accountant for several years in Houston before enrolling in the University of Houston Law Center in 1987. She graduated in 1990 and began her legal career in Houston working as an associate for Thomas N. Thurlow and Associates. In 1991, she moved to San Antonio and began employment with the Law Offices of Frank Herrera. After one year, she transferred to the McAllen branch office which she managed until 1997. In that year, she became a partner in a civil trial firm that litigated and tried state and federal court cases. Justice Contreras also formed a mediation practice in 1997 which she ran concurrently with her law practice. She was elected to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. In 2010, Justice Contreras was one of three recommended by the Texas congressional delegation for nomination by the White House to a United States District Court seat in Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

Justice Contreras has served as a member of numerous legal and community organizations including President of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and on the boards of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. She currently serves as a councilmember to the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section. Throughout her legal career, Justice Contreras has lectured at continuing legal education programs around the state. She enjoys speaking to students at local schools and serving as a role model to the young women in her community. Before relocating to Corpus Christi, Justice Contreras was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in McAllen.

 

In 2014, Justice Contreras was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and received the Good Samaritan Award from Good Samaritan Community Services-RGV, a non-profit organization that provides an after-school and summer program for at-risk youth in the Pharr community.  In 2016, she received the Judge of the Year Award from the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section.

 

Justice Contreras has three children. Lisette Marie Howard is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has a Master’s degree from the University of North Texas. Vanessa Barry graduated summa cum laude from UT Pan American and is employed as the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for IDEA Public Schools. Michael James Garza, Jr. is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Justice Contreras has three beautiful grandchildren and a fourth due in May.

 

"I am committed to the rule of law, to applying the law fairly and impartially, and to upholding the constitutions of the United States and the state of Texas," said Contreras. If elected, Justice Contreras will be the first female Chief Justice to serve on the court.

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March 11, 2017

Justice Dori Contreras Announces Candidacy for Chief Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals

 

Dear Family, Friends and Long-Time Supporters:

 

Yesterday, Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez announced that he will retire at the end of his term in 2018. I thank Chief Justice Valdez for his years of dedicated service to the Court as its leader and as my colleague, mentor, and friend. After nearly fifteen years of serving with Chief Justice Valdez as a justice, it is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I announce my intent to seek election to serve as your Chief Justice of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals.

 

The judicial duties and responsibilities of chief justice do not differ from that of a justice; however, the chief justice has the added responsibility for administration of the Court and budget. My years of service on the Court, coupled with my accounting degree, make me the most qualified candidate to seek this position. In addition to disposing of cases in a just and efficient manner, I have assisted Chief Justice Valdez with numerous administrative matters and will continue to do so as he completes his current term.

 

As you may know, the Thirteenth Court of Appeals serves twenty counties throughout South Texas and the Coastal Bend with offices in Edinburg and Corpus Christi. I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and have served on several organizations in the community and throughout the state. Recently, I relocated to Corpus Christi. Being there puts me closer to Coastal Bend constituents and communities. It also enables me to work closely with the Clerk of the Court, who offices in Corpus Christi.

 

For several years, I have contemplated succeeding Chief Justice Valdez, and I am fully prepared to serve as his successor. Because of my many years of service on the Court and familiarity with its procedures, the transition will be seamless. I will have no learning curve.

 

Your support in the past has meant so much to me. With your continued support, I look forward to serving as your next chief justice.

 

Sincerely,

 

Justice Dori Contreras

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