James DeAnda

James DeAnda (August 21, 1925 – September 7, 2006) was an American attorney and United States federal judge, noted for his activities in defense of Hispanic civil rights, particularly as a plaintiff's attorney in Hernandez v. Texas.

DeAnda was born in Houston, Texas to Mexican immigrants. His attendance at Texas A&M was interrupted by World War II service in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific. Graduating from Texas A&M in 1948, he then received an LL.B. from the University of Texas in 1950. He was in private practice in Houston, Texas from 1951 to 1955, and in Corpus Christi, Texas from 1955 to 1979. In the early 1950s, he was on the plaintiff's team in Hernandez v. Texas, writing most of the briefs. In the late 1960s, he was among those who organized the Texas Rural Legal Assistance Organization and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

DeAnda was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. DeAnda was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 13, 1979, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 10, 1979, and received his commission on May 11, 1979. He served as chief judge from 1988-1992. DeAnda's service was terminated on October 1, 1992, due to retirement. After retirement, he returned to private practice in Houston until 2005.

He died of prostate cancer at his vacation home in Traverse City, Michigan, aged 81.

References

• Austin American-Statesman, "Retired judge fought to defend Hispanics civil rights in Texas", 10 September 2006
• Houston Chronicle, "James deAnda" (editorial), 8 September 2006
• Ruiz, Rosanna, Houston Chronicle, "Houston judge had a major role in a landmark ruling on Hispanic rights", 8 September 2006

External links

• James DeAnda at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.