Newroles but familiar setting
Newly sworn-in jurists already have a history at Bexar courthouse
For two new district judges taking the bench this week, life has taken them full circle.
Judge Jacqueline “Jackie” Herrvaldés, presiding judge of the 386th Juvenile District Court, practically grew up at the courthouse. The daughter of Senior District Judge Maria Teresa “Tessa” Herr, Valdés was about 5 the first time she visited her mother, then a prosecutor for Bexar County, at work. When her mother became a jurist in 2002, she continued swinging by the courthouse to visti her mother in her court..
Valdés, 40, was sworn in Friday by her mother in an outdoor investiture ceremony at Herr’s home. The swearing-in was officiated by Valdés’ five children and streamed live
on Facebook. Afterward, Herr presented her daughter with Valdés’ late father’s Bible.
“It was a very special day. I’m happy and delighted,” said Herr, now a visiting judge who sits by appointment.
Herr said she always pushed her daughter to do whatever she wanted to do.
She said Valdés’ love of children will serve her well as a juvenile district on the juvenile bench.
“It just seemed like a natural path. I’m very proud. I knew she could do it,” said Herr. “She continually amazes me.”
Judge Nicole Garza, 50, presiding judge of the 37th Civil District Court, asked a longtime mentor, Judge Peter Sakai, to administer the oath in her new courtroom Friday. A former teacher, Garza was an intern for Sakai in the 1990s after she changed her career path to study law.
Sakai, presiding judge of the 225th District Court/children’s Court, said he has sworn in several judges, but this was the first time he has done so for a former intern.
“I am honored and humbled to have administered the oath,” he said. “I have full confidence and know she will be a great judge.”
Each first-time judge must attend what they call “judge school,” which both completed this week.
Valdés, from San Antonio, spent 10 years as a juvenile prosecutor for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. She ousted incumbent Judge Arcelia Treviño in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Daphne
Previti Austin, a former juvenile district judge, in the November election.
A mother of five, Valdés is passionate about working with young people and looks forward to working with them from the other side of the bench.
“I feel like I can talk to them in a different way, get to them,” she said, “This is the perfect place to do it.”
She decided to run for the juvenile bench after Treviño, a controversial first-time state district judge, came under fire for repeated absences and inattention in the court.
Valdés had prosecuted cases before Treviño but was moved to intake at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center when she decided to run for office. Shortly before the primary, Treviño ousted two prosecutors from her courtroom, apparently because she thought they supported Valdés.
Garza, originally from Laredo, was an attorney in private practice. She defeated incumbent Judge Michael Mery in the March Democratic primary. In November, she beat Republican Joseph P. Appelt, a lawyer in private practice who also has served as analternate municipal court judge in Devine.
A daughter and sister of educators, Garza spent three years teaching pre-kindergarteners and third- and sixth-graders.
“I had a calling for justice at an early age, watching out for people,” she said. “I have a deep obligation to help people. What can I donow, what canidotoday. It's exciting, and I'm ready to help.”
She added that working in family court would be a natural fit.
The mother of two teens, Garza is active in the community, many times funding activities for children.
Garza also sings in a band called Loitering at the PET (Paul Elizondo Tower), a group comprised of Bexar County employees who work in the justice center.
As she hits the ground running with zoom hearings and getting familiar with her docket, she is ready for the new challenge.
“I am looking forward to things to come.”