McALLEN — On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment of Ysmael D. Fonseca Jr. to the bench of the 464th state District Court, according to a news release.
The appointment comes as the court’s current judge, Jaime Tijerina, is set to be sworn in Thursday as judge for the Place 4 seat on the 13th Court of Appeals.
Abbott appointed Tijerina to the spot on July 24, shortly following the resignation of recently elected Place 4 Judge Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado, who was convicted of bribery during a federal trial in early July.
Fonseca, 38, of McAllen, is currently a junior partner at Guerra, Leeds, Sabo & Hernandez, PLLC, which has offices in McAllen and Brownsville.
According to the firm’s website, Guerra, Leeds, Sabo & Hernandez, P.L.L.C., primarily handles insurance defense litigation involving damages ranging from serious injury and death to less severe injuries.
The firm’s areas of practice include product liability, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents and defects, medical liability and premises liability, the site states.
Fonseca is also a member of the State Bar of Texas, Hidalgo County Bar Association, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, and The Federalist Society, the release states.
“Additionally, he is a high school professional mentor for the Shary Foundation. Fonseca received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School,” the release states.
According to his biography on the Guerra, Leeds, Sabo & Hernandez website, Fonseca served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Randy Crane between 2009 and 2011.
Fonseca is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in political science from The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.
Fonseca, Jr. will hold his post as Judge of the 464th Judicial District Court for a term set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020, or until his successor is elected and qualified.
