Justice Dori Contreras Garza

Place 6

Justice Dori Contreras Garza was born in San Juan, Texas. She was raised in Pharr, Texas and graduated from PSJA High School in 1976. After graduation, she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas from which she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in December of 1980. In response to a job offer, Justice Garza moved to Houston, Texas and worked as an accountant for several years before deciding to go to law school. In 1987, as a mother of two daughters, she began law school in the night program at the University of Houston Law Center and continued working full-time. She continued with this rigorous schedule for a year and one-half before deciding to quit her job and borrow the needed funds to attend school full time. A year and one-half later, in May of 1990, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Justice Garza was active in various organizations in law school and was recognized as one of six students to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Houston Law Center. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November of 1990.

Justice Garza began her legal career in Houston working as an associate for Thomas N. Thurlow and Associates. In 1991, she moved to San Antonio and began employment with the Law Offices of Frank Herrera. After one year, she transferred to the McAllen branch office which she managed until 1997. In that year, she became a partner in a civil trial firm that litigated and tried state and federal court cases. Justice Garza also formed a mediation practice in 1997 which she ran concurrently with her law practice. She was elected to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008. In 2010, Justice Garza was one of three recommended by the Texas congressional delegation for nomination by the White House to a United States District Court seat in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Before joining the court, Justice Garza served as President of the Hidalgo County Bar Association; was a board member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association; and, served on the board of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Justice Garza has served as a member and on boards of numerous legal and social organizations. Throughout her legal career, Justice Garza has lectured at continuing legal education programs around the state and country. She enjoys speaking to students at local schools and serving as a role model to the young women in her community. Justice Garza is an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church in McAllen. When she is not busy with her family or her job, she enjoys running, exercising, reading, watching movies, traveling and socializing with friends.

Justice Garza has three children and two grandchildren. Lisette Marie Howard is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has a Master's degree from the University of North Texas. Vanessa Barry graduated summa cum laude from UT Pan American and is employed as the Senior Communications Manager for IDEA Public Schools in Austin. Michael James Garza, Jr. attends Memorial High School. Justice Garza has two grandchildren, Aidan Scott Howard and Caroline Grace Barry.

Updated: 21-Mar-2012