Audio Clip
Mexican Native Named U.S. Judge On The Border
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The latest federal judge confirmed this week for South Texas has quite a unique background: She’s a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Marina Marmolejo will join the bench in Laredo, right across from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico — her hometown. She was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in 1995.
She’s currently a partner at a private law firm in Austin, Texas. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday.
Marmolejo obtained her law degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Rey Valencia, associate dean at St. Mary’s law school, knows her well.
“I am thrilled with her appointment,” Valencia said. “Marina and I were recently at the Hispanic National Bar meeting in Dallas and I know she was looking forward to this day and I’m sure very excited as are we at her alma mater.”
Marmolejo did not return a message seeking comment left at her law firm.
In her long legal career, she has worked as both a federal prosecutor and as a federal public defender.
She fills one of numerous vacancies in federal courts across the Southwest.
In Arizona, Jennifer Zipps will replace Judge John Roll, slain during the shooting that injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in January. And Miranda Du would become the first Asian-American federal judge in Nevada if she’s confirmed.