Fourth Court of Appeals
Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez
Place 1
Chief Justice Rebeca C. Martinez is the proud daughter of a Vietnam War Veteran and his wife of over 60 years. She was raised on military bases all around the country for most of her childhood. She graduated high school with honors from Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi, Texas, as a University Scholar with dual degrees from Southern Methodist... Read more
Justice Luz Elena Chapa
Place 4
Justice Luz Elena D. Chapa was elected to serve on the Fourth Court of Appeals effective January 1, 2013, and when elected, she was the youngest appellate judge in the State of Texas. She was re-elected in 2018 and is currently serving her second term. Prior to her election, Justice Chapa practiced on both sides of the civil docket in... Read more
Justice Irene Rios
Place 6
Justice Irene Rios was elected to Place 6 on the Fourth Court of Appeals in 2016. Justice Rios graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1990. In 1999, she was appointed by the Bexar County Commissioners Court as Judge of Bexar County, County Court at Law No. 10, where she served for 14 years. As a trial judge, Justice... Read more
Justice Beth Watkins
Place 2
Justice Beth Watkins was elected to Place 2 on the Fourth Court of Appeals in 2018. Before joining the Court, she represented clients in more than 200 appeals to state and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and most intermediate appellate courts in... Read more
Justice Liza A. Rodriguez
Place 5
Justice Rodriguez was born and raised in the border town of Laredo, Texas. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas and St. Mary’s University School of Law. Prior to being elected to the court of appeals in November 2018, she served the community as an Assistant District Attorney for ten years. Later, she was a solo practitioner... Read more
Justice Lori I. Valenzuela
Place 7
Justice Lori I. Valenzuela was the former judge of the 437th Criminal District Court where she presided from 2009 until she was appointed to the 4th Court of Appeals in January 2021. Raised in a military family, she takes great pride in co-founding and presiding over a Felony Veteran’s Treatment Court while serving as a trial judge. Prior to her... Read more
Justice Lori Massey Brissette
Place 3
Justice Lori Massey Brissette was appointed to serve on the Fourth Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott effective July 8, 2024 to fulfill the term left open by Justice Patricia Alvarez’s retirement. Formerly, she was a Judge of the 288th District Court, first appointed by Governor Perry and then elected twice by the people of Bexar County. Justice Brissette obtained her... Read more