Announcement of Xavier Rodriguez

Good morning.  It is my pleasure to introduce to Texans my newest appointee to the Texas Supreme Court: Xavier Rodriguez.  He is joined today by his biggest supporter: his wife Raenell, and their two daughters, Lauren and Sarah.

A native of San Antonio, Xavier Rodriguez received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, and both a Masters degree in Public Affairs and a law degree from the University of Texas.

Xavier Rodriguez has practiced law in San Antonio for fourteen years as a member of the firm Fulbright & Jaworski.  He is an employment law specialist who has worked in the Labor and Employment Section, and the Litigation Section of his firm.

He has a strong background in litigation, including appellate law, and has been a prolific writer and speaker on numerous areas of employment and labor law.

He will bring an experienced perspective to Texas’ highest court, which hears a number of cases each year that relate to employment and labor law.

As governor, I am committed to appointing the best and brightest among our state’s legal community to places on the bench.  Xavier Rodriguez has distinguished himself in the private practice of law, and I am confident will distinguish himself on our state’s highest court.

He understands members of the judiciary have a mandate to interpret the law, not create it.

I introduced Xavier’s lovely wife and their two daughters earlier.  It is with some sadness that I mention one individual who could not be here today- Xavier’s late father, Rudolph, who passed away last year.

A survivor of the allied invasion of Normandy, Rudolph Rodriguez taught his four boys the meaning of the word perseverance.  Xavier saw in his father a man of tremendous determination, especially when his mother, Elvira Gonzalez Rodriguez, a native of Mexico, passed away when he was nine.

Rudolph kept the family together as they lived through that terrible loss, and as he raised his boys on a very modest family income. 

He pushed his boys to study hard and get a good education, because there were no limits that could be placed on their future if they had the solid foundation of a good education.

His four sons listened, and today the love and devotion of a tireless father has paid tremendous dividends as one of his sons, Xavier Rodriguez, has achieved one of the highest honors in the legal profession, a position on the Texas Supreme Court.

Today he must be very proud, Xavier, as are a number of Texans who admire your work, and your strong character.  It is my honor to introduce the next justice on the Texas Supreme Court, Xavier Rodriguez.