Thirteenth Court of Appeals
Chief Justice Dori Contreras
Place 1
Chief Justice Dori Contreras was first elected as a Justice to the 13th Court of Appeals in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. She was elected Chief Justice in 2018 and will serve in this position through 2024. It is her honor to be the first woman Chief Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals and, at the time of... Read more
Justice Gina M. Benavides
Place 5
Justice Gina M. Benavides was first elected to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in 2006 and took office in January of 2007. She was re-elected in 2012 and 2018. She is currently the Senior Justice on the Court. During her tenure as an appellate judge, Justice Benavides has authored more than 1500 opinions on issues involving civil and criminal matters. Service... Read more
Justice Nora Longoria
Place 2
Justice Nora L. Longoria was first elected to the 13th Court of Appeals in 2012 and re-elected to a second six-year term in 2018. She was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station in 1986 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. In 1990, Justice Longoria received her... Read more
Justice Jaime E. Tijerina
Place 4
Justice Jaime Eduardo Tijerina was elected to the 13th Court of Appeals, Place 4 on November 3, 2020. Justice Tijerina was previously appointed to the same position by Governor Greg Abbott in August of 2019. Justice Tijerina also served as the 464th and 93rd District Court Judge in 2018 and 2019, positions also appointed by Governor Abbott. Justice Tijerina served... Read more
Justice Clarissa Silva
Place 6
Justice Lionel Aron Peña Jr.
Place 3
Justice Lionel Aron Peña Jr. was elected to the 13th Court of Appeals, Place 3 on November 8, 2022. The eldest of six siblings, he is the son of Lionel Aron Peña, Sr. and Sylvia Alamia Peña. After attending primary schools in his home community of Edinburg, he graduated from Edinburg High School in 1977. Peña graduated from the University of Texas... Read more