Persons Who Have Appeared Before Her
Dear Judge Saldaña,
My wife and I wanted to extend to you this invitation to our son's graduation in hopes that you might realize the impact your judgment has had on ours and our son’s life. As a result of you giving him a second chance, he has successfully completed his senior year in high school, is graduating with honors, and has been named a Texas Scholar. Without your realization that at times teenagers make adult mistakes, our son would not be where he is today.
It is our hope that with your knowledge of these results, you may continue to make this type of decision that effect (sic) the lives of our city's young men and woman.
Judge,
I am writing to you today to thank you first of all for the way you treated me in your courtroom. I now realize the severity of what my husband and I did. You still treated me like a person and not a criminal. You didn't talk down to me, you talked to me and that meant a lot to me and still does. Being in jail strips you of your pride and humiliates you beyond belief. But it didn't just do that, it taught me a valuable lesson.
Dear Honorable Judge Marisela Saldaña,
I want you to know that I appreciate how nice you were to me. I'll never forget the two girls that were at your courtroom the same day I was. You talked to all three of us about what we had done. They had stolen clothes from Wal-Mart or something to that affect. My situation was much more serious. But I realized when you came and shook my hand and told me that you knew I had been through a lot, that you truly understood why I did what I did at that time. Not to say that you condoned it. You were really caring and nice. It was my first and God willing, my last time in court. I was so nervous. Thank you for being so nice.
Dear Judge Saldaña,
Not many people are grateful for a DWI, but I am! Had I not been stopped by that police officer, surely someone would have been hurt or worse. I certainly was a danger to myself and others. On May 19, I completed outpatient treatment at Coastal Bend. The week before I finished DWI classes at Texas Driving School. Now I am working on my 90 AA meetings in 90 days...only 70 more to go, and then at least 4 a week.
I would especially like to thank you for your kindness from the bench. I was so scared my knees were shaking. I appreciate your positive comments on the program I had in place. I know the pain of growing up in an alcoholic home.
I often think of how directly and intently you looked at me and your smile of encouragement! Thank you again.
Honorable Judge Saldaña,
Thank you very much for your kindness towards my son. You are an asset to your position! I am very grateful. I don't condone what my son did - you know my dad (being an old Syrian) use to say, "You are a reflection of your raising", but that isn't true with this generation. I did not raise my son like this. Thank you much for lending me your shoulder to cry on. Thank you again. I'll remain forever grateful.
Your Honor,
Thank you for the understanding and compassion you displayed towards my nephew. Hopefully he'll take advantage of the chance you gave him.
Marisela,
Just wanted to say thank you for your kindness and consideration during an emotional time for me. You are a friend and we are lucky to have you serving on the bench. Thank you for all you do!
Dear Judge Saldaña,
I wanted to thank you for the patience, tolerance, and help you extended to me last week at the hearing on my father's estate. You made it possible for me to accomplish something that would have been difficult without your courtesies.
Dear Judge Saldaña,
My experience here at the R.I.T.E. program was hampering, but with God I have accomplished to graduate successfully. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me this chance of a life time to seek the help that I needed and wanted for myself and family. You gave me a choice to see myself as a person and to change for the better. Seeing now that I can do it without any chemicals in me makes me feel something that was hidden from the real world. Being able to see a new way of living has only made the skies bluer and more bright in sober eyes and so beautiful. So thank you for allowing me to move forward with my life with a better understanding.
Dear Mrs. Saldaña,
I want to thank you for sending me to the R.I.T.E. program. If you hadn't sent me here, there's no telling where I would be. I had prayed to God for some help, because my life had become unmanageable. I was ready to change, but I didn't know where to get help. God does work in mysterious ways; we just have to have faith in Him.
Judge,
I can not thank you enough for providing me with an opportunity like this. The program here is excellent. Hard, but good. I am healthy again and I have found Jesus and he's becoming a very big part in my life. I feel like a completely different woman. As of now I have 60 days of sobriety and I have a sponsor through NA. There's only one way for me to go and that's is up! Thank you again for your time and allowing me this opportunity.
