Cuero, TX – The atmosphere was electric at Millie’s in downtown Cuero Wednesday evening as DeWitt County voters gathered for a highly anticipated meet and greet event. The event was graced by the esteemed judges from the 13th Court of Appeals, who were the guest of honor and candidates running for reelection. The excitement was palpable, fueled by the good news from the previous day: Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had performed exceptionally well during Tuesday night’s debate.
The presence of these Judges added a touch of prestige to the gathering, and attendees were eager to engage with them. Alongside the judges, two area candidates also attended, making the event a significant occasion for political discourse and community bonding.
The meet and greet provided a platform for community members to express their joy and optimism following the debate. Many attendees shared their thoughts on the candidate’s performance, highlighting key moments that resonated with them. The positive feedback created a sense of unity and shared purpose among the participants. DeWitt County Registered voter Jose Trevino said that one of his favorite moments of the debate was at the very beginning seeing Kamala Harris walk up to Trump and extend her hand to offer him a handshake.
“That gesture right there spoke volumes for me, said Trevino. It communicated her confidence. She walked right up to that bully, and I call him that because we have all seen him and have heard how he talks to people especially his political opponents, but Harris set the tone and communicated not only her grace but also showed respect. Because that’s what is missing in her opponent, among other things of course. Everyone deserves respect the rich, the poor, the immigrant, the Republican and the Democrat and even Donald Trump.”
Justice Gina Benavides, currently the senior justice serving on the Court of Appeals, is
running to fill the open position of Chief Justice. Justice Benavides is a graduate of the
University of Houston School of Law. Gina is active within her community of McAllen.
She and her husband count their eight grandchildren as the light of their lives.
As an incumbent for Place 2 on the Court of Appeals, Nora Longoria has deep Texas
roots. She is the daughter of a South Texas rancher and a school teacher. Longoria earned an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the
University of Texas. While serving on the Court of Appeals, Justice Longoria has written
and jointly authored over 1200 opinions.
Running for Place 4 is Joe Martinez, a lifelong Texas resident and a graduate of the
University of Texas School of Law. Martinez and his wife Josie have been married for 40
years and are the proud parents of 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Martinez has 42 years of legal experience in civil, criminal and appellate law.
Vying for an open position, Place 5, is Regi Richardson, who advanced in the Democratic
primary for the right to run in this position. Regi is a 2002 graduate of Texas Southern
University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has worked for more than 20 years as
an attorney in the Edinburg area.
A special highlight of the event was the presence of Judge Linda Reyna Yañez, the first Hispanic judge ever appointed in the state, a historic appointment made by Governor Ann Richards in 1993. She was also the first Hispanic Woman to serve on an appeals court in the history of the state of Texas and is the first woman to serve on the 13th Court of Appeals. Judge Yañez received her LLM from the University of Virginia Law School, Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas Pan American. Before embarking on her judicial career, she served as a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School and as the Regional Counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Chicago.
Judge Linda Yanez
Judge Linda Yanze is a retired Appellate Senior Justice but continues to serve as a traveling judge. She also works closely with Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. She shared insights about her role in managing migrant cases explaining how federal officers with the Biden Administration will make arrest and turn them over to the State where they are being processed and documented as state captures, but then the state turns right around and returns these immigrants to federal authorities. The federal government has sole authority to enforce immigration laws.
However, according to an investigation by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project, the state has been counting arrests and drug charges physically distant from the border, and unrelated to criminal activity at the border and not investigated by DPS or the Texas Military Department.
The Texas Tribune went on to explain that hundreds of people arrested and detained under Operation Lone Star were not charged with a crime for weeks, and dozens were not given a lawyer for more than a month. Texas law dictates that criminals must be assigned an attorney within three days of asking for one, and that state law requires that defendants be released from jail if prosecutors delay cases by not filing charges quickly. Because most imprisoned migrants are charged with simple trespassing, that deadline would be 15 or 30 days, depending on the severity of the charge.
Regina “Regi” Compian Richardson 13 Court of Appeals PL 5
Area Candidates in the Spotlight
The two area candidates present at the event also received a warm reception. They took the opportunity to outline their platforms and answer questions from the community. The candidates emphasized their commitment to addressing local issues and working towards the betterment of the community. Their presence underscored the importance of local elections and the impact of grassroots political involvement.
The meet and greet was more than just a political event; it was a celebration of community spirit and democratic engagement. The success of their candidate in the debate had clearly energized the attendees, fostering a sense of hope and determination. As the event concluded, many expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to connect with their representatives and the esteemed judges.
The community left the event with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to support their candidate and engage in the democratic process. The meet and greet was a testament to the power of community and the importance of staying informed and involved in local politics.