AUSTIN – On Aug. 15, Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC endorsed Judge Jaime E. Tijerina of Mission in his campaign for the 13th Court of Appeals.
“Each election cycle, TLRPAC supports judicial candidates who understand the importance of a fair, efficient and honest legal system to Texas families and businesses,” TLRPAC Chairman Richard J. Trabulsi Jr. said. “Jaime Tijerina’s principled judicial experience, lifetime of public service and commitment to upholding the integrity of our legal system make him the best candidate to serve in Place 4 on the 13th Court of Appeals.”
Tijerina is a city attorney for the city of Mission. In 2013, he was appointed as judge of the 92nd State District Court by Gov. Rick Perry, a position he held until the end of 2014. He served as county attorney for Kenedy County for twelve years, and has previously worked in private practice in Mission. He is owner and managing partner of Tijerina Ranch, a cattle and hunting operation in Kenedy County. Tijerina is a former board member of the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association, a former member and chair of the State Bar of Texas District 13 Grievance Committee, and a former board member of the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association. He was also recently elected as a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and to the Texas Prosecutor’s Society.
Tijerina is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. He served as command judge advocate for the 211th Regional Support Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Tikrit, Iraq in 2009, and as legal advisor to the National Police Legal Affairs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2012. Tijerina was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 13th Court of Appeals covers 20 counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, De Witt, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton and Willacy. The court hears appeals in both civil and criminal cases from those counties and maintains offices in Corpus Christi and Edinburg. Tijerina is running for the Place 4 seat on the court, which is currently held by Nelda Vidaurri-Rodriguez.
TLRPAC is the political arm of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), the largest civil justice reform organization in Texas. TLR is a bipartisan, volunteer-led coalition with 16,300 supporters residing in over 900 Texas communities and representing 1,255 different businesses, professions and trades.