H.R. No. 970
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Esmeralda Peña Garcia retired from the
Houston Municipal Court in March 2020, drawing to a close a notable
career in public service that spanned more than three decades; and
WHEREAS, After receiving her bachelor's degree in sociology
from the University of Houston in 1974, Ms. Garcia worked for the
Abuse Team of Harris County Children's Protective Services; she
went on to earn her law degree in 1982 from the University of
Houston Law Center, and she was the first Hispanic person to be
elected president of the UH Student Bar Association and helped lead
the effort to include minority students on the admissions
committee; and
WHEREAS, Known to many as "Judge Essie," Ms. Garcia served
the City of Houston and the State of Texas for 33 years as a
municipal court judge, and her long and tireless service was
recognized when October 11, 2016, was declared Judge Esmeralda Peña
Garcia Day by the City of Houston; her many other honors include the
Women Making History Award from the Harris County Democratic Party,
the Distinguished Service Award from the UH Law Center Faculty, and
lifetime achievement awards from the Mexican-American Bar
Association of Texas Foundation and the National Hispanic
Professional Organization-Houston; and
WHEREAS, Since her retirement, Judge Garcia has joined the
firm of Johnson Garcia LLP, where she is of counsel as a personal
injury attorney; and
WHEREAS, Judge Essie Garcia's dedication, integrity, and
commitment to justice greatly benefited the citizens of Harris
County and earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, and
she may indeed reflect with pride on her many years of service; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Esmeralda Peña
Garcia on her retirement from the Houston Municipal Court and
extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Garcia as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Morales of Harris
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 970 was adopted by the House on May 8,
2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House