Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza is the Judge of the 120th Judicial District Court in El Paso, Texas, where she has served since 2007. She is also the President and Chair of the Board of Directors at Texas Latinx Judges, a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that advances current and future Latinx judges. With over 16 years of judicial experience, Judge Salas-Mendoza has served on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee and on the councils for the State Bar of Texas Judicial, Hispanic Issues, and Women and the Law sections.
In this episode…
Only 4% of lawyers in Texas are Latinx, a stark disparity considering the state’s large Hispanic population. This underrepresentation in the legal profession underscores systemic barriers and highlights the need for visible role models in positions of authority. How can Latinx judges and lawyers create pathways for equitable representation in the legal field?
As one of the few Latina judges in Texas, Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza exemplifies leadership and resilience. Overcoming humble beginnings and navigating spaces where she was often the only Latina, Judge Salas-Mendoza has become a symbol of hope and fairness in the judiciary system. Her career is marked by a commitment to community service, from leading legal aid initiatives to mentoring young professionals. Judge Salas-Mendoza emphasizes the importance of fostering trust in the justice system by ensuring judges and lawyers reflect the diversity in the communities they serve.
In this episode of The Lawtino™, John Gomez and Jessica Lujan chat with Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza about her efforts to ensure equal representation in the judicial field. Judge Salas-Mendoza shares how her cultural identity shaped her approach to justice, the role of mentorship in her career, and her vision for advancing Latinx representation.
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