81R6036 JGH-D By: Pena H.R. No. 206 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The Honorable Juan R. Partida has served the community of the Rio Grande Valley with great distinction for more than 20 years; and WHEREAS, Born in Edinburg to Jose G. and Adela C. Partida, Juan Partida graduated from Edinburg High School in 1970; he attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his bachelor's degree with honors in 1974 and his law degree in 1977; since then, he has continued his legal education by attending the Texas College for New Judges and the National Judicial College; and WHEREAS, In 1986, Judge Partida was elected to the Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 1, and two years later, he won the first of six consecutive elections to the 275th District Court, all but one of them without opposition; his current term on the district court expires at the end of 2010; and WHEREAS, Judge Partida pioneered the use of alternative dispute resolution methods in Hidalgo County, employing both voluntary and mandatory mediation and also nonbinding summary jury trials; moreover, this esteemed Texan was the first judge in the Rio Grande Valley to require the Prison Orientation for One Day Program as a condition of community supervision in criminal cases; and WHEREAS, Judge Partida is a leader in his profession outside of the courtroom as well; from 1998 to 1999, he served as chair of the Hidalgo County Bail Bond Board, and he was elected by his fellow district court judges to serve as the local presiding judge for the Board of Judges in 2007; he is also the overseer of the two auxiliary courts in the county; and WHEREAS, With the love and support of his wife, Felicia, and his three children, Daniel, Melissa, and Laura, Judge Juan Partida has dedicated himself to the pursuit of excellence in the administration of justice in Hidalgo County for more than two decades, and the people of the Rio Grande Valley have benefited greatly from his consummate professionalism; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby commend Judge Juan R. Partida for his contributions to his community and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success in his invaluable work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Judge Partida as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.