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Has experience in trials of major crimes, criminal appeals, family law, and other civil and administrative matters, practicing in Federal Courts across multiple districts.

As a legal professional, has experience in trials of major crimes, criminal appeals, family law, and other civil and administrative matters, practicing in Federal Courts across multiple districts.

As a judge, upheld the right of a defendant to choose his own counsel, finding no conflict of interest with the attorneys he hired.

- As a legal professional, has experience in trials of major crimes, criminal appeals, family law, and other civil and administrative matters, practicing in Federal Courts across multiple districts.
- As a judge, upheld the right of a defendant to choose his own counsel, finding no conflict of interest with the attorneys he hired.

Legal Experience

Supports timely trial dates for criminal cases.

Supports training defense attorneys on new technology being implemented in the Bexar County judicial system.

Believes in maintaining in-person meetings for Bexar County Courts despite being tech-savvy.

Believes in maintaining in-person meetings for Bexar County Courts despite having remote capabilities.

Believes in protecting defendants' rights by ensuring that evidence and statements are only admitted if obtained in compliance with legal standards.

Believes in strict measures for domestic violence offenders, urging no bond for re-offenders.

- Supports timely trial dates for criminal cases.
- Supports the return of live jury trials.
- Supports training defense attorneys on new technology being implemented in the Bexar County judicial system.
- Believes in maintaining in-person meetings for Bexar County Courts despite having remote capabilities.
- Believes in protecting defendants' rights by ensuring that evidence and statements are only admitted if obtained in compliance with legal standards.
- Supports jail diversion programs.
- Believes in strict measures for domestic violence offenders, urging no bond for re-offenders.

Judicial Administration

Believes in protecting the right to counsel, as demonstrated by the decision in State v. Soto, where supported the suppression of evidence based on a clear invocation of the right to counsel.

Supports protecting the right to counsel.

- Supports protecting the right to counsel.

Judicial Philosophy

Believes in maintaining ethical standards in legal practice, as demonstrated by the disqualification of defense counsel due to conflicts of interest with his firm.

- Believes in maintaining ethical standards in legal practice, as demonstrated by the disqualification of defense counsel due to conflicts of interest with his firm.

Ethics & Conduct

Volunteers to teach trial advocacy to inner-city high school students.

- Volunteers to teach trial advocacy to inner-city high school students.

Community Involvement

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Velia J. Meza

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- There are a total of 80 appellate court seats, distributed variably among the courts as defined by law.
- Courts with more than three justices decide cases in rotating panels of three.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The annual salary for intermediate court justices is approximately $170,000.