Obama Nominates Three More to Federal Judgeships in South Texas

© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.

By Mark Curriden – (September 19) – President Obama nominated three sitting Texas judges to fill vacant federal judgeships in South Texas.

The White House announced late Thursday that it is sending the names of Harris County state District Judge Alfred H. Bennett, Brownsville state District Judge Jose Rolando Olvera, Jr. and U.S. Magistrate Judge George C. Hanks, Jr. of Houston to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

The three judges were vetted by the special judicial nominations committee established by U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Insiders say that the nominations are expected to face confirmation hearings by the end of the year.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said. “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.”

Judge Bennett is the Presiding Judge for the 61st Civil District Court of Texas, a position he has held since 2009. From 2010 to 2011, he served as the Administrative Judge for the Harris County Civil District Courts. From 1998 to 2008, Judge Bennett was a solo practitioner, representing individuals and companies in litigation. The University of Texas Law School alum also spent time as a litigator at Solar & Fernandes and Fulbright & Jaworski.

Judge Hanks has served as a federal magistrate judge in the Southern District of Texas since 2010. From 2003 to 2010, he served as a Justice on the First Court of Appeals of Texas and from 2001 to 2002, he served as a District Judge for the 157th Civil District Court of Texas. After receiving his doctor of jurisprudence from Harvard Law School in 1989, he received his LL.M. from Duke University in 2014. Judge Hanks was a shareholder at Wickliff & Hall and an associate at Fulbright & Jaworski.

Judge Olvera has been the Presiding Judge of the Fifth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas since 2011. The University of Texas Law School alum has been a state District Judge in Brownsville since 2009. He also served as a state judge in 2005 to 2006. Judge Olvera has been a solo practitioner and a lawyer at two firms – Spain & Olvera and Atlas & Hall.

Both U.S. Senators from Texas gave public approval of President Obama’s choices for the open judgeships.

“I am pleased that the President has nominated three exceptional candidates for these important positions,” said Sen. John Cornyn. “Their depth of experience and unqualified dedication to public service has uniquely prepared each of them to handle these new roles, and I hope the Senate will confirm their nominations.”

Photo courtesy of the Houston Chronicle.

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