The Honorable Rogelio Valdez (D)

Last modified on: 11-21-2018 11:28:53


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General Information

Birthdate: 12-20-1951


Personal Information

Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez was born in Raymondville, Texas, on December 20, 1951. He graduated from Texas A&I University in 1976, and received his Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, Texas, in 1979.

Chief Justice Valdez began his legal career in 1979 in the private practice of law in Houston, Texas. From 1980 to 1981, he served as an assistant district attorney with the District Attorney’s Office of Cameron County, Texas. He was elected as Judge of the County Court at Law Number One of Cameron County, a position which he held from 1983 to 1986. Thereafter, Chief Justice Valdez was elected as District Judge of the 357th District Court of Cameron and Willacy Counties, and served in that position from 1987 until 2000. While serving as District Court Judge, he also served as Local Presiding Judge of District Courts for Cameron and Willacy Counties from 1991 until 2000. On November 7, 2000, Chief Justice Valdez was elected to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals and is the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected to this position. His current term as Chief Justice on the Thirteenth Court of Appeals is through 2006.