TWO BROWNSVILLE MUNICIPAL JUDGES SWORN IN MONDAY

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Two local attorneys were sworn in Monday afternoon at City Plaza as City of Brownsville municipal judges.

They were Jaime Diez and Rigoberto Flores.

Diez was be sworn in by U.S. Magistrate Ignacio Torteya and Flores was sworn in by federal judge Rolando Olvera.

There were many applicants for the municipal judge positions. We have learned that among those considered were local attorneys Ed Cyganiewicz, Erin Gamez, Ruben Herrera and other well-known local lawyers.

Judges to the municipal court have traditionally been made by the city manager in consultation with the chief municipal judge. However, the notice of the appointments were signed by assistant city manager Pete Gonzalez.

During the swearing in, Olvera and Torteya – both former City of Brownsville municipal judges themselves – said the new appointments reflect the fact that Brownsville continues to produce quality jurists.

"This just shows that we have many Brownsville jurists, attorneys who have shown they have the ability to serve as local judges," Olvera said.

The last municipal judge appointed was about two weeks ago when local attorney Rick Nuñez was also sworn in. The vacancies were created when Rene de Coss was chosen as the city commission attorney and a Harlingen attorney's contract was not renewed.

Politically, the selections are also an indicator that  the new majority on the city commission is exerting its muscle on the city administration. That majority - Jessica Tetreau, Cesar de Leon, Ricardo Longoria and Joel Munguia - have now become the guiding force on the commission. It is unlikely that Gonzalez would have taken the decision to appoint these two judges on his own.

Both men are well-qualified for the municipal judge positions. Diez specializes in immigration law and Flores was a Cameron County District Asst. District Attorney.