Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today announced the President has nominated Judge Alfred H. Bennett Judge George C. Hanks Jr. and Judge Jose Rolando Olvera Jr. to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
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I am pleased that the President has nominated three exceptional candidates for these important positions" said Sen. Cornyn. Their depth of experience and unqualified dedication to public service has uniquely prepared each of them to handle these new roles and I hope the Senate will confirm their nominations."
"Our judicial system depends on well-qualified judges to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law" said Sen. Cruz. I along with my fellow Texas Senator John Cornyn have recommended three judges to President Obama who have been nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Our Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee seeks judges of the highest caliber and we will continue to work with the White House to recommend candidates who have expressed a commitment to the law of the land."
Each of these candidates was recommended by Sens. Cornyn and Cruz to the President after being screened by their bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). The Senators have established this panel of leading attorneys in Texas to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill these vacancies.
Biography of Judge Alfred H. Bennett:
Judge Alfred H. Bennett is the Presiding Judge for the 61st Civil District Court of Texas a position he has held since 2009. From 2010 to 2011 he served as the Administrative Judge for the Harris County Civil District Courts. From 1998 to 2008 Judge Bennett was a solo practitioner representing individuals and companies in litigation before both state and federal courts. From 1994 to 1998 he worked at Solar & Fernandes LLP and from 1991 to 1994 he worked at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. Judge Bennett received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1991 and his B.S. from the University of Houston in 1988.
Biography of Judge George C. Hanks Jr.:
Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Texas since 2010. From 2003 to 2010 he served as a Justice on the First Court of Appeals of Texas and from 2001 to 2002 he served as a District Judge for the 157th Civil District Court of Texas. Prior to joining the bench Judge Hanks was a shareholder at Wickliff & Hall PC from 1996 to 2000 and an associate at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP from 1991 to 1996. He began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge Sim Lake of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas from 1989 to 1991. Judge Hanks received his LL.M. from Duke University Law School in 2014 his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989 and his B.A.
summa cum laude from Louisiana State University in 1986.
Biography of Judge Jose Rolando Olvera Jr.:
Judge Jose Rolando Olvera Jr. has been the Presiding Judge of the Fifth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas since 2011 and the District Judge for the 445th District Court of Texas since 2009. From 2005 to 2006 he served as the District Judge for the 138th District Court of Texas and from 2001 to 2002 he served as the District Judge for the 357th District Court of Texas. Judge Olvera also worked as a solo practitioner and served as a part-time Brownsville Municipal Court Judge from 2007 to 2008. From 2003 to 2004 he worked first as a solo practitioner and then with the law firm of Spain & Olvera. Judge Olvera worked in private practice at Fleming & Olvera PC and its predecessor firms from 1994 to 2000 and at Atlas & Hall LLP from 1990 to 1993. He received his J.D. in 1989 from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. in 1985 from Harvard University.
