About me: Carlos Cortez is Presiding Judge of the 44th State Civil District Court which covers all of Dallas County. Cortez offered Dallas County voters an exceptional perspective and new voice in judicial leadership which they heard and voted for on November 7, 2006.
For his entire legal career, Judge Cortez has set a record of unusual achievement and distinction. The son of Dallas teachers, Judge Cortez is a native Texan and longtime Dallas County resident. He graduated from Bryan Adams High School and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas and a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Judge Cortez worked his way through law school prior to founding his firm in 1996, practicing civil law with a focusing on people.
Keenly able to recognize the merits of a case, his first trial went to the Texas Supreme Court, and as lead counsel made oral argument to the Texas Supreme Court which resulted in changing 100 years of eminent domain law in Texas benefiting Texas landowners.
In 2003 he was a member of the legal team that represented the 18-year-old boy who was medically neglected at the Tarrant County Boot Camp facility in Mansfield, Texas, resulting in the boy's torture and death. The jury awarded the family the largest non-economic award in county history.
Respected by his peers, in 2004 he was selected by attorneys in Dallas County to "D Magazine's" list of Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas.
In 2005 attorneys throughout the State of Texas voted him as a "Rising Star/Super Lawyer," an award only given to the top 2% of attorneys in Texas.
In 2006, he overwhelmingly won the DTLA & MBA Judicial Polls over his opponent.
He has bar licensure for all Texas State Courts, the U.S. District Court - Northern District, and the United States Supreme Court. He served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Hispanic Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the American Bar Association.
In addition to his legal achievements, he has given back to the community by supporting numerous charities and by providing free legal services each year as an attorney. In 2004, he provided free legal representation on behalf of a family whose husband and father died in the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City and was recognized by the 9/11 Commission for his pro-bono work for the victim's family. In 2005, when called upon again, he provided free legal services to the Hurricane Katrina victims relocated in Dallas County.
As your elected State Civil District Judge for the 44th District of Dallas County, Judge Cortez has brought energy, purpose and diversity to the bench, fulfilling his duties with competence, diligence, integrity and fairness to all of Dallas County.
