Hon. J. Manuel Bañales

Corpus Christi, TX

Born: September 17, 1950 in El Paso, Texas to Margarito and Consuelo V. Bañales
Family: Married to Margaret (Peggy) S. (nee Moreno) Bañales on December 28, 1974
Children: Five adult children

Education  + -

  • Bates College of Law, University of Houston
    December 1974
  • University of Texas at El Paso
    BA Political Science   May 1972
  • El Paso Public Schools (Austin HS)
    1968

Experience  + -

  • Subject to assignment under Chapter 74, Tx.Govt.C.
    Senior Judge   2011 - Present
  • Appointment of Texas and U.S. District Courts and by agreement of parties and counsel
    Mediator   2011 - Present
  • Civil cases: by appointment of Judges of the District Courts and County Courts at Law of Texas
    Pre-trial Master   2012
  • Arbitrator
    2012
  • Appraisal Umpire
    2014
  • Practice of Law, limited practice
  • 5th Administrative Judicial Region (appointed by Gov. Rick Perry)
    Presiding Judge   January 5, 2007 to January 4, 2011
  • 105th Judicial District (Kenedy, Kleberg and Nueces counties)
    District Judge   January 1, 1987 to December 31, 2010
  • Nueces County
    Local Administrative District Judge   1993
  • Juvenile Board for Nueces County
    Chair   1997-1998
  • Texas Judicial System, by appointment of the Supreme Court of Texas
    Citizens’ Commission   1992-1993
  • Texas Center for the Judiciary, Inc.
    Board of Directors   1993-1994, unexpired term
  • Texas Center for the Judiciary, Inc.
    Curriculum Committee   two terms
  • Jury Assembly and Administration, by appointment of the Supreme Court of Texas
    Task Force   2006-2007
  • Texas Juvenile Probation Advisory Council
    1993
  • Law Offices of J. Manuel Bañales
    January 1981-December 1986
  • Bañales & Cavada Law Offices
    February –December 1980
  • Law offices of Daniel V. Alfaro
    Associate   January 1979-February 1980
  • Huerta, Peña, Beckman, Rodriguez & Alfaro
    Associate   January 1976-January 1979
  • Law offices of Ramsey Muniz
    Associate   May-December 1975

Memberships & Affiliations  + -

  • State Bar of Texas
    1975
  • Supreme Court of Texas
    May 9, 1975
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
    1976
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
    1976
  • Supreme Court of the United States
    1983
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    Board Certified in Criminal Law   1982
  • College of the State Bar of Texas
    1987
  • Judicial Section
    1987
  • Hispanic Issues Section
    Founding Member, Chair   1977 - 1978
  • Chicano Bar Association of South Texas
    Founding Member, President   1977-1979, 1978-1979
  • Mexican American Bar Association of Texas
    Founding Member   1979-1986
  • Corpus Christi Bar Association
    Member, Board of Directors,   1978-1980
  • Texas Bar Foundation
    Life Fellow   1991
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
    1976-1981
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
    1977-1986
  • St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church
    Lector; Past CCD Teacher; Parish Council Member   One Term
  • Tuloso Midway ISD PTAs
    1985-2008
  • South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services, Inc. (STSARS);
    President, Board   1995