United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Southern District of Texas)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Use American English Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. federal court

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (in case citations, S.D. Tex.) is the federal district court with jurisdiction over the southeastern part of Texas. The court's headquarters is in Houston, Texas, and has six additional locations in the district.

Appeals from cases brought in the Southern District of Texas are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

since March 12, 2025Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the United States attorney is Nicholas J. Ganjei. [1]

Along with the Western District of Texas, District of New Mexico, and District of Arizona, it is one of the busiest district courts in terms of criminal felony filings.[2]

History

File:1861 Galveston Customs and Courthouse.jpg
The oldest federal civil building in Texas, the 1861 Customs and Courthouse in Galveston, once housed the Southern District of Texas.
File:Galveston Texas Federal Building 1891.jpg
Federal Courthouse in Galveston that housed the court & its predecessor, from 1891–1917[3]

Since its foundation, the Southern District of Texas has been served by forty-one District Judges and six Clerks of Court. The first federal judge in Texas was John C. Watrous, who was appointed on May 26, 1846, and had previously served as Attorney General of the Republic of Texas. He was assigned to hold court in Galveston, at the time, the largest city in the state. As seat of the Texas Judicial District, the Galveston court had jurisdiction over the whole state.[4] On February 21, 1857, the state was divided into two districts, Eastern and Western, with Judge Watrous continuing in the Eastern district.[5] Judge Watrous and Judge Thomas H. DuVal, of the Western District of Texas, left the state on the secession of Texas from the Union, the only two United States Judges not to resign their posts in states that seceded. When Texas was restored to the Union, Watrous and DuVal resumed their duties and served until 1870. Judge Amos Morrill served in the Eastern District of Texas from 1872 to 1884. He was succeeded by Chauncy B. Sabin (1884 to 1890) and David E. Bryant (1890 to 1902). In 1902, when the Southern District was created by Act of Congress, Judge Bryant continued to serve in the Eastern District of Texas.

In 1917, the General Services Administration added courtrooms and judicial offices to the second floor of the 1861 U.S. Customs House in Galveston, and it became the new federal courthouse for the Southern District of Texas. This location would later become the seat of the Galveston Division, after Congress added a second judgeship in the 1930s.[5][6][7]

The Southern District of Texas started with one judge, Waller T. Burns, and a Clerk of Court, Christopher Dart, seated in Galveston. Since that time, the court has grown to nineteen district judgeships, six bankruptcy judgeships, fourteen magistrate judgeships, and over 200 deputy clerks.

Galveston Division

File:Galveston Federal Building 2009.jpg
The U.S. federal building in Galveston, current home of the Galveston Division.

In 2007, criminal charges were filed against Judge Samuel B. Kent, the only District judge in the Galveston Division, who sat at the Federal Courthouse in Galveston, the oldest federal judgeship in the state.[8] Due to the litigation, Chief Judge Hayden Head transferred Kent and his staff to the Houston Division.[8][9] Judge Kent subsequently pleaded guilty, in February 2009, to obstruction of justice and, after being impeached by the House of Representatives, resigned in June 2009.[10] The next month, it was announced that Judge Kent's post would remain vacant for the time being, and a replacement judge would be assigned to McAllen, due to the increase in cases in the Texas border area concerning subjects such as drugs and immigration.[11]

Laredo Division

File:U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division.svg
The United States Courthouse is the current home of the Laredo Division.

Laredo, Texas, is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande River and is unique in its ability to operate international bridges between two Mexican states. The city presently maintains four border crossings and one rail bridge with the Mexican State of Tamaulipas at Nuevo Laredo and the Mexican State of Nuevo León at Colombia. Webb County also borders the State of Nuevo León and the State of Coahuila, Mexico, northwest of Laredo. Laredo is the largest inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border and the Pan American Highway leading into Mexico through Laredo stretches from Canada and continues into Central and South America. Because of its location and accessibility to Mexico, Laredo’s economy is primarily based on international trade with Mexico. According to the Laredo Development Foundation, more than 700 of the Fortune 1,000 companies do international business via Laredo and more than 9,000 trucks cross through town per day along with 1,800 loaded rail cars. Laredo is ranked first in growth in Texas and seventh in the country by the Milken Institute.[12]

The division encompasses five counties with the federal courthouse located in Laredo, Texas. There are two Laredo district court judges⁠—Judges Diana Saldaña and Marina Garcia Marmolejo, who presided over more than 2,000 felony cases in 2013⁠—most of which involved charges of narcotics trafficking and alien smuggling. In addition, there are three federal magistrates who alternate duties every two weeks. Additionally, the federal grand jury convenes every other week where AUSAs rotate the responsibility of presenting felony cases.[12]

Jurisdiction

File:CaseyFederalCourthouseHoustonTX.JPG
Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Downtown Houston

The jurisdiction of the Southern District of Texas is divided as follows:

Current judges

since May 21, 2025Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
40 Chief Judge Randy Crane McAllen 1965 2002–present 2022–present — G.W. Bush
39 District Judge Keith P. Ellison Houston 1950 1999–present — — Clinton
44 District Judge Diana Saldaña Laredo 1971 2011–present — — Obama
45 District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos Corpus Christi 1965 2011–present — — Obama
46 District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo Laredo 1971 2011–present — — Obama
48 District Judge Alfred H. Bennett Houston 1965 2015–present — — Obama
49 District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. Houston 1964 2015–present — — Obama
50 District Judge Rolando Olvera Brownsville 1963 2015–present — — Obama
51 District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. Brownsville 1969 2018–present — — Trump
52 District Judge David S. Morales Corpus Christi 1968 2019–present — — Trump
53 District Judge Jeff Brown Galveston 1970 2019–present — — Trump
54 District Judge Charles R. Eskridge III Houston 1963 2019–present — — Trump
55 District Judge Drew B. Tipton Corpus Christi 1967 2020–present — — Trump
56 District Judge John A. Kazen Laredo 1964 2024–present — — Biden
57 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
58 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
59 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
60 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
61 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
24 Senior Judge Hayden Wilson Head Jr. inactive 1944 1981–2009 2003–2009 2009–present Reagan
25 Senior Judge Ricardo Hinojosa McAllen 1950 1983–2025 2009–2016 2025–present Reagan
26 Senior Judge Lynn Hughes inactive 1941 1985–2023 — 2023–present Reagan
27 Senior Judge David Hittner Houston 1939 1986–2004 — 2004–present Reagan
28 Senior Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt Houston 1948 1988–2013 — 2013–present Reagan
29 Senior Judge Sim Lake Houston 1944 1988–2019 — 2019–present Reagan
30 Senior Judge Melinda Harmon inactive 1946 1989–2018 — 2018–present G.H.W. Bush
31 Senior Judge John David Rainey Victoria 1945 1990–2010 — 2010–present G.H.W. Bush
33 Senior Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. Houston 1936 1992–2006 — 2006–present G.H.W. Bush
34 Senior Judge Lee H. Rosenthal Houston 1952 1992–2024 2016–2022 2024–present G.H.W. Bush
35 Senior Judge Janis Graham Jack Corpus Christi 1946 1994–2011 — 2011–present Clinton
38 Senior Judge Hilda G. Tagle inactive 1946 1998–2012 — 2012–present Clinton
41 Senior Judge Andrew Hanen Houston 1953 2002–2025 — 2025–present G.W. Bush
42 Senior Judge Micaela Alvarez McAllen 1958 2004–2023 — 2023–present G.W. Bush
43 Senior Judge Gray H. Miller Houston 1948 2006–2018 — 2018–present G.W. Bush

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".


Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
4 Houston Lynn Hughes Senior status February 12, 2023 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".
9 McAllen Micaela Alvarez June 8, 2023 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".
15 Houston Lee H. Rosenthal December 1, 2024 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".
3 Andrew Hanen January 2, 2025 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".
7 McAllen Ricardo Hinojosa May 21, 2025 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1858–1917 1902–1917 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". death
2 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1879–1973 1918–1931 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". elevation to 5th Cir.
3 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1874–1962 1931–1954 — 1954–1962 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
4 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1899–1959 1939–1942 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". resignation
4.1 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1899–1959 1949–1959 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". death
5 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1892–1983 1942–1975 1954–1962 1975–1983 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
6 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1909–1975 1949–1974 1962–1974 1974–1975 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
7 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1903–1990 1954–1969 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". elevation to 5th Cir.
8 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1915–2004 1961–1979 1974–1979 — Script error: No such module "Sort". elevation to 5th Cir.
9 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1909–1997 1961–1976[Note 1] — 1976–1997 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
10 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1918–2015 1966–1988 1979–1988 1988–1992 Script error: No such module "Sort". retirement
11 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1917–1990 1966–1982 — 1982–1990 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
12 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1922–2020 1970–1987 — 1987–2020 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
13 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1910–1990 1970–1981 — 1981–1990 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
14 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1934–2023 1975–1984 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". resignation
15 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1931–1988 1976–1988 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". death
16 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1929–2023 1977–1979 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". resignation
17 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1922–1985 1979–1985 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". death
18 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1925–2006 1979–1992 1988–1992 — Script error: No such module "Sort". retirement
19 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1931–1997 1979–1996 1992–1996 1996–1997 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
20 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1940–2021 1979–2009 1996–2003 2009–2018 Script error: No such module "Sort". retirement
21 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1942–present 1979–1988 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". resignation
22 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1918–1998 1979–1989 — 1989–1998 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
23 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1935–2004 1980–2000 — 2000–2004 Script error: No such module "Sort". death
32 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1949–present 1990–2009 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". impeachment and resignation
36 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1956–present 1994–2022 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". retirement
37 Nancy Atlas TX 1949–present 1995–2014 — 2014–2022 Script error: No such module "Sort". retirement
47 Script error: No such module "Sort". TX 1972–present 2012–2014 — — Script error: No such module "Sort". elevation to 5th Cir.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 16, 1962, and received commission on March 17, 1962.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Chief judges

Template:ChiefJudgeDC

Succession of seats

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

List of U.S. attorneys

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

  • Marcus C. McLemore 1902–1906[13]
  • Lodowick McDaniel 1906–1914
  • John Edward Green Jr. 1914–1919
  • David Edward Simmons 1919–1922
  • Henry Matthews Holden 1922–1934
  • Douglas Wear McGregor 1934–1944
  • Brian Sylvester Odem 1944–1954
  • Malcolm Richard Wilkey 1954–1957
  • William B. Butler 1957–1961
  • Woodrow Bradley Seals 1961–1966
  • Morton Lee Susman 1966–1969
  • Anthony Perez Farris 1969–1974
  • Edward B. McDonough Jr. 1974–1977
  • Jose Antonio Canales 1977–1980
  • Daniel Kuldell Hedges 1981–1985
  • Henry K. Oncken 1985–1990
  • Ronald G. Woods 1990–1993
  • Gaynelle Griffin Jones 1993–1997
  • Mervyn Milton Mosbacker 1999–2001
  • Michael T. Shelby 2001–2005
  • Donald J. DeGabrielle 2006–2008
  • Kenneth Magidson 2011–2017
  • Ryan Patrick 2018–2021
  • Alamdar S. Hamdani 2022–2025

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ General Services Administration: U.S. Custom House, Galveston, Texas
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ http://www.txs.uscourts.gov/district/genord/2007/2007-17.pdf Southern District of Texas General Order 2007–17
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    1. REDIRECT Template:Source-attribution
    Template:Redirect template
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:United States 5th Circuit district judges Template:United States 5th Circuit senior district judges Template:USDistCourts Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Authority control [[Category:Template:Resolve category redirect]]Template:Coord missing/CheckCat

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=United_States_District_Court_for_the_Southern_District_of_Texas&oldid=2189038"