This morning was the first day of work as a judge for local attorney Luis Sorola.
But he won't be the only one who will wear judicial robes in the Sorola household.
His wife Mary Esther Sorola is the Justice of the Peace Pct.2, Place 3.
Today Sorola took over the duties of Associate Judge in the 445th District Court and heard his first cases at 8:30 a.m. That district court is presided by Judge Gloria Rincones.
"I only wish that my father (the late Moses Sorola) was around to see this," Sorola said.
Sorola was chosen from numerous applicants for the position created to streamline the magistrate's office and to fill in the breach of the district and specialty courts to handle the overflow of cases. One magistrate judge's position was eliminated during the budget process this year at the suggestion of the county's district judges.
The panel of judges who said the county needed an associate who would assist in the specialty courts such as the Divert Court, the Veterans Court and Mental Health Court. Sorola, well-versed in criminal and family law, and also a veteran, made the first cut and then was picked from among the applicants by the full panel of district judges.
Among the duties called for by the position was that the cases in those courts be attended to in a timely manner, that he conduct arraignments, fill in at magistrate court during the week, perform extraditions, review probable cause, set bonds and help out in other legal procedures.
The position was opened September 8 and closed Sept. 21 after when the interviews were conducted and the field winnowed to finalists.
The requirements for the position was that applicants be licensed attorneys in good standing with the State Bar of Texas, must have four years of experience and be a resident of Cameron County. Additionally, they must be able to vote in the State of Texas and Cameron County, and have the ability to speak English and Spanish.
Sorola attended Mercer University, the the oldest private university in Georgia with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. He graduated in May 1995 and was admitted to the Texas State Bar in December 1995. He has been in private practice for 22 years as a trial attorney in personal injury, wrongful death lawsuits and other serious claims for bodily injury.
For more than 20 years he was under contract by Cameron County to provide defense for parents in the child support court and is certified by the State Bar of Texas as a Guardian Ad Litem.
Sorola is a certified mediator and has defended clients in both state and federal courts. He is licensed to practice in all Texas courts and the Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.