Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – Judge Victor Villarreal received the oath of office on January 6, 2023 to serve a second term through 2026 as Judge of Webb County Court-at-Law II. Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht administered the oath of office in a virtual ceremony, reminiscent of the hybrid court hearings at Webb County Court-at- Law II. The incumbent judge was unopposed in the March 2022 primary and then again in the November 2022 general election.
Officiating the oath of office, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Hecht commended Judge Villarreal’s work. “From the moment Victor Villarreal first came to the Webb County Court-at-Law II, he has been a pillar of integrity in the courthouse and an inspiring leader in improving the justice system. From presiding over mock trials to teach Laredo students first-hand civics lessons in the judicial process, to training judges and court staff nationally in the pandemic, to presiding over cases fairly and efficiently every day, Judge Villarreal together with his staff have earned the designation as a Center of Excellence. The people of Texas, and the cause of justice, are better for Judge Villarreal’s service.”
Chief Justice Hecht was present in Laredo with the Texas Supreme Court when the court heard oral arguments in Laredo in 2012. Judge Villarreal, then serving on the board of directors of the Texas Young Lawyer Association, led the project that brought the Texas Supreme Court to Laredo for the first time in the history of the State of Texas. A permanent reminder of the Texas Chief Justice and his work will remain part of the Webb Justice Center. He is the chair of the Texas Judicial Council, which designated Webb County Court-at-Law II a Judicial Center of Excellence. The Webb County Commissioner’s Courtcommissioned a plaque which is located immediately outside the Webb County Court-at-Law II courtroom. The plaque commemorates Webb County Court-at-Law II’s designation as a Center of Excellence and also the leadership of Chief Justice Hecht as chair of the Texas Judicial Council.
Judge Villarreal thanked Chief Justice Hecht for his kind remarks and said, “My soul is happy serving the public as judge. The court’s accomplishments are possible because of the friendly, innovative, and hardworking court staff. Their response with every challenge is, ‘We can do it!’ Even when the answer isn’t obvious at first, the court staff troubleshoots,problem-solves, and then present creative solutions. I thrive on their can-do attitudes and the public benefits.” He continued, “The love and support of family and friends sustains me. The love of my wife, Lorena, my daughters, Sofia and Andrea, and my mother, San Juanita, motivates me to excel. I am also forever grateful to the people of Webb County for trusting me with such an important duty – the impartial administration of justice. Thank you!”
He promised to continue efficiently and impartially administering justice, to look for innovative improvements to the court and the judiciary, and to continue communicating that message to the public. “Our court innovations began before the pandemic. The pandemic, however, created challenges which we turned into opportunities for judicial improvements.”
Elected officials congratulating Judge Villarreal through video messages included: Congressman Henry Cuellar,Senator Judith Zaffirini, Representative Richard Raymond, Fourth Court of Appeals Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez, Thirteenth Court of Appeals Chief Justice Dori Contreras, Justice Robbie Partida-Kipness, District Judge Antonia “Toni” Arteaga, Judge Jesus “Chuy” Dominguez, Associate Judge Leticia Martinez, Associate Judge Belinda Mendez, District Attorney Isidro Alaniz, Sheriff Martin Cuellar, District Clerk Esther Degollado, Chief of Police Claudio Treviño, Jr., Harris County Commissioner and former judge Lesley Briones, Laredo College President Minita Ramirez, State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Sylvia Borunda Firth, and Texas Access to Justice Foundation Executive Director Betty Balli Torres.
The Webb County Court-at-Law II staff were then sworn-in by Judge Villarreal to formally commence his second full term in office.
Judge Villarreal has presided over Webb County Court-at-Law II since April 2017. First appointed unanimously by the Webb County Commissioners Court to complete an unexpired term, he was then elected in March and November 2018 to serve his first full term. He now enters his second term with a renewed commitment to continue working hard for Webb County, inthe interest of justice, in the interest of judicial economy, and in the best interest of Webb County taxpayers.
Since presided over by Judge Villarreal, Webb County Court-at-Law II has been recognized statewide and nationally. The court became the first in the state of Texas to be audited as 100% compliant on statutory guardianship requirements, the first county court-at-law to be recognized as a center of excellence in the state of Texas by the Texas Judicial Council, and the first local court to adopt video-conference court settings during the pandemic. Judge Villarreal led statewide efforts on virtual courts at the beginning of the pandemic and then nationally by conducting educational seminars for judges and court staff. Healso presides over The DWI Specialty Court Program that has been recognized nationally for its non-stop mitigating efforts and positive results of aiding in reducing DWI’s during the pandemic.
Judge Villarreal is the president of Texas Latinx Judges, a commissioner on the Judicial Branch CertificationCommission, a curriculum committee member of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, a member of Texas Office of Court Administration Judicial Needs Assessment Committee, council member of the Thompson Reuters Judicial Advisory Council, and a board member of both the Judicial Section and Juvenile Section of the State Bar of Texas.
