A Turning Point
Sharing office space with programs aimed at aiding one of the most impoverished areas in the state, Judge Saldaña was exposed to the human face of poverty. After the successful start of the State’s pilot adoption program, she moved back to her home in Corpus Christi. where she was employed for more than five years as an Administrative Assistant with the City of Corpus Christi's Human Relations Division and here, she was introduced to another element of her prior work in the Valley – the legal applications affecting the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. Again, propelled by her desire to broaden the impact of her work, Judge Saldaña applied for and, was admitted to, the University of Texas School of Law at Austin.
Two Invaluable Mentors
Judge Saldaña's decision to attend law school was encouraged and supported by two great mentors – her mother, Inez, and her friend, David Diaz. After raising her seven children, Judge Saldaña's mother decided to attend nursing school and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She worked for the next 26 years as a nurse at Spohn Hospital, demonstrating a strong work ethic and instilling in her children the belief that with education, hard work and determination, you can overcome any hurdle. David Diaz, former city councilman and former judge of the 94th District Court, is affectionately referred to by Judge Saldaña as her "father in law". With the strong encouragement of Judge Diaz and nearing her 36th birthday, she enrolled in law school. After receiving her law degree, Judge Saldaña launched her law practice and, over the next ten years, she worked to effect change using legal avenues.
From Lawyer to Judge
When the Nueces County Court at Law 3 became vacant, Diaz again stood as a beacon to Judge Saldaña. Diaz and other supporters in the legal community encouraged her to run for the seat. Out of a field of three, Judge Saldaña scored a victory rarely seen – she won the seat in the first round – the primary of March 1994. It was with great honor that Saldaña shared her investiture to the bench with her esteemed mentor, David Diaz.
The Values that Earn Respect
With the values that Judge Saldaña learned from her mother – that education and determination overcome hurdles – and with a core belief system that balances a strict application of the law with human compassion, she has consistently and firmly presided over her courtroom. Judge Marisela Saldaña exudes all of the qualities essential to the bench; she’s tough, competent, and fair.
