Attorney Hugo D. Martinez has announced his bid for Judge of Webb County Court at Law #1. He faces incumbent Alvino "Ben" Morales in that March 12 race.
Martinez is a former Webb County Public Defender, having served in that capacity from 1992 to July 2001. He is also a former assistant Webb County attorney and a former staff attorney and interim director of the Laredo Legal Aid Society, Inc.
He is licensed to practice law in Federal District Court, Southern District of Texas. He is a member of the Webb County Bar Association and past president of the Laredo Young Lawyers Association.
At the recent opening of his campaign headquarters, Martinez pledged to "run the Webb County Court at Law No. 1 in a manner that will bring justice to all using the principles of law and equity; and to treat all lawyers, litigants, and witnesses with respect and dignity."
Martinez said that domestic violence and juvenile delinquency are "malignancies that are crippling our society because they plague the very core of our societal structure, the family unit." He added that "they are issues that a County Court at Law Judge faces on a daily basis. "He said that despite having in place mechanisms for punishing criminal actions, increasing numbers in these two areas indicate the need for alternative means to address them.
"A judge must strive to help the hard-working individuals already committed to addressing these two cancers," he said, adding, "Preventive measures must be explored to avoid future problems."
Martinez said, "As a public servant for over 12 years, I understand the need for more involvement from our elected officials. I will run the Webb County Court at Law No. 1 in a manner that will bring justice for all using the principles of law and equity. I will dedicate whatever time is needed to the youth of Laredo in an effort to help stem the tide of juvenile delinquency."
The Martinez campaign can be reached at 1514 Victoria or at 753-8600.