Sept. 2023 | Vol.5, Iss. 1
Spotlight: Ysmael D. Fonseca, Jr., Judge 476th District Court
RGV LEAD proudly introduces one of its latest RGV LEAD Board of Directors, Judge Ysmael Fonseca.
Judge Fonseca was born and raised in South Texas. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. degree, with honors, in Political Science and Spanish Literature in 2003 and a J.D. degree, with honors, in 2009. Before attending law school, he served as a Paralegal Specialist for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., assisting in prosecuting civil rights cases, focusing on prosecuting human trafficking offenses. He continued in public service while in law school through his work with the United States Attorney’s Office in McAllen, Texas, after his first year and with Senator John Cornyn in the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate after his second year.
During his law school years, Judge Fonseca served as note editor in the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy and as a student lawyer in the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic, representing indigent clients in small estate, guardianship, and other probate matters.
Judge Fonseca’s career as an attorney began with his service as a judicial law clerk for Judge Randy Crane of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He then continued his practice at Guerra & Sabo, PLLC (formerly Guerra, Leeds, Sabo & Hernandez, PLLC), specializing in civil defense, municipal law, and small business and non-profit representation. From 2019 to 2020, Judge Fonseca served as judge of the 464th District Court of Hidalgo County.
On March 15, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Judge Fonseca to the 476th District Court of Hidalgo County, a court of general jurisdiction overseeing criminal, family, and civil cases.
RGV LEAD looks forward to the leadership Judge Fonseca can provide the RGV LEAD Board of Directors in the coming months!
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