United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova Investiture Ceremony Held on April 19, 2024
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, was honored with his official Investiture ceremony on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Community Center in Del Rio, Texas with the Honorable Alia Moses, Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, as the presiding judge of the court investiture ceremony amidst a large gathering of federal, state, county, and municipal judges, court personnel, colleagues, family, friends, and members and students of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
United States Deputy Marshal, Del Rio Division, Peter Castillo announced the opening of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in session with the Honorable Alia Moses, Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas presiding.
The invocation was presented by Father Antonio Moreno of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Del Rio, Texas.
The students of Sacred Heart Catholic Church led the audience in recital of the United States Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Briana Mata.
Chief Judge Moses presented the opening remarks and welcomed everyone to the Investiture Ceremony for the Honorable Joseph A. Cordova, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas.
Presenting the introductory remarks and featured speakers at the ceremony was the Honorable Matthew Watters, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division.
United States Magistrate Judge Watters introduced the Honorable Henry Bemporad, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio, Texas as the first speaker followed by the Honorable Maureen S. Franco, Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas, then Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney James Ward, and the Honorable David E. Martinez, Val Verde County Attorney made the formal introduction of Judge Cordova as a candidate for investiture.
Chief Judge Moses was accompanied by Aracely Cordova, wife of Judge Cordova, during the official investiture, swearing-in, and robing of United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova.
Following the investiture, Judge Cordova addressed the audience with his personal remarks, thanking his parents, wife, family, teachers, fellow judges, attorneys, court personnel, law enforcement authorities, coworkers, clients, friends, and, most importantly, the Lord for blessing and assisting him become a United States Magistrate Judge. Judge Cordova vowed to be the best United States Magistrate Judge that he could be and to be fair and just with his administration of justice.
Following Judge Cordova’s remarks, Father Jose M. Otaolaurruchi of Sacred Heart Catholic Church gave the benediction and Chief Judge Moses presented closing remarks before adjourning the Court.
Additional distinguished jurists attending the investiture ceremony included United States District Judge Ernest Gonzalez, Retired United States Magistrate Judge Collis White, United States Magistrate Judge Anne T. Berton, 365th Judicial District Judge Amado J. Abascal, III, 83rd Judicial District Judge Robert E. Cadena, Val Verde County Court at Law Judge Sergio Gonzalez, Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens, Dimmit County Judge Martha Ponce, and Del Rio Municipal Court Judge Kassandra Vanessa Flores.
Guests were provided pastries and refreshments following the ceremony courtesy of the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys.
United States Magistrate Judge Cordova graduated from St. Mary’s University in 1989 and from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1992. He practiced law as a solo practitioner from 1992-1998 in San Antonio, Texas. In 1998, Judge Cordova became an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Southern District of Texas. In 2006, Judge Cordova was named Chief Public Defender for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Regional Office in Del Rio, Texas. In 2007, Judge Cordova became once again an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas in Del Rio, Texas, rising to Supervisory Assistant at the Del Rio Federal Public Defender’s Office, until 2023 when he was appointed to become a United States Magistrate Judge. In 2014, Judge Cordova was named the Lawyer of the Year by the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys while serving as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas.
