Chief Justice, Texas Fourth Court of Appeals
By Blithe Wiley
Chief Justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals, Rebeca Martinez, is the proud daughter of a Vietnam War veteran and his wife. She and her four siblings grew up on military bases all around the country, and today, she credits this familial lifestyle for her ability to acclimate to new surroundings easily and appreciate meeting people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
“My parents had five children and sacrificed greatly to ensure that all of us, as first-generation students, would pursue a college education,” Martinez said.
Martinez’s dream of becoming an attorney began when, as a pre-teen, she snuck into the Al Pacino movie “And Justice of All,” which focuses on an idealistic criminal defense attorney who must defend a corrupt judge while seeking justice for the innocent and punishment for the guilty. “The experience of seeing this film inspired me to go to law school and become an attorney,” she explained.
After earning her undergraduate degree as a University Scholar at Southern Methodist University, Martinez received a scholarship to attend Boston University School of Law. She was likely the first Mexican-American graduate of the law school, where she now proudly serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board. Upon graduating in 1992, Martinez recalls Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was then the only woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. The following year, Martinez witnessed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court and today proudly calls Justice Sonia Sotomayor a mentor.
After law school, Martinez enjoyed two prestigious law clerk positions before entering private practice for 20 years. In 2012, she was elected to the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals and was reelected in 2018. In 2020, Martinez was elected Chief Justice.
The Texas Fourth Court of Appeals has intermediate appellate jurisdiction of both civil and criminal cases appealed from lower trial courts in thirty-two counties encompassing most of South Texas and the Hill Country. The stated values of the Fourth Court are “Excellence, Integrity, Independence of the Judiciary, Collegiality, Accountability, Fairness and Respect.”
“I’m very proud to note that in 2005, the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals became the first appellate court in the nation to have all women justices on its bench,” Martinez said. “It has been an all-women bench again since 2014, and today, six of our seven justices are Latinas.”
Martinez believes that the all-woman composition of the Fourth Court of Appeals bench sends a powerful message about gender equality and inclusivity. “It also reflects the public’s confidence in women’s capabilities and our commitment to upholding the values of this court,” she said. “For each of us, having the discipline to achieve these values is a daily goal.”
“I’m extremely proud to be part of this very noble profession, and I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to go down this path,” Martinez said. “I’m also blessed in that I love my work and find it intellectually stimulating and important.”
Martinez recognized that her service on the court serves as an inspiration to young women, especially women of color. “I recognize that a Latina like me has a responsibility to serve as a role model for others, and I take this responsibility very seriously. I want young Latinas to feel empowered to pursue their professional dreams and goals, whether in the legal field or otherwise.”
Second-year St. Mary’s Law School student Mia A. Quintanilla, who is currently serving as a summer intern in Chief Justice Martinez’s chambers and aspires to be a judge herself, shared her thoughts regarding how the all-woman Fourth Court of Appeals inspires young women, particularly Latinas like herself.
“Chief Justice Martinez and the all-women Fourth Court of Appeals inspire me to persevere,” Quintanilla said. “In my first year at St. Mary’s University School of Law, only two of my eight classes were taught by women. Next semester, I chose four of five of my classes in part because women teach them. Women in power, especially those with similar cultural backgrounds, inspire me to overcome every obstacle. If she can, so can I.”
Martinez emphasized that her background of growing up in a military family is what most profoundly shaped her views and values. “I learned at a very young age the importance of accountability and responsibility. I can remember being five years old and standing on a stepstool, cooking dinner for my younger siblings,” she recalled.
“Today, I’m not afraid of hard work, and I’m not afraid to fight for what I believe in,” she explained. “If I didn’t possess these qualities, my father and mother would not recognize me as their daughter.”
