Hispanic Houston judge named to Court of Criminal Appeals

Gov. Rick Perry named Elsa Alcala to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to replace Charles Holcomb, who retired from the court.

Alcala is a justice of the First Court of Appeals in Harris County, and a former Houston district judge. Before becoming a judge, she served as an assistant district attorney, rising to chief felony prosecutor under fomer DA Johnny Holmes.

She was first appointed to her district judge position by then-Gov. George W. Bush and later elevated in 2002 by Perry to the intermediate court of appeals. She subsequently won election to that post in 2006.

Alcala will be the only Hispanic or minority to currently serve on the 9-member court that hears ultimate appeals in criminal cases. She is believed to be the first Hispanic woman to be on the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Texas Supreme Court handles civil matters.

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/03/hispanic-houston-judge-named-t.html

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