Julio A. Garcia
Encyclopedia
Julio Arnoldo Garcia, Sr. (July 2, 1941–October 16, 2008), was a prominent attorney
from Laredo
, Texas
, defined by a headline writer as a "legal lion" known for his passion, shrewdness, and theatrics in the courtoom." Garcia also served from 1981 to 1988 as the Democratic
district attorney
of the 49th Judicial District of heavily Hispanic
South Texas
. The district then included Webb
, Zapata, Dimmit
, and Jim Hogg counties, but it is now confined to Webb and Zapata counties.
, and his mother created the first neighborhood group
and the first savings and loan association
in Laredo. Garcia graduated with honors in 1959 from the Roman Catholic-affiliated St. Joseph Academy in Laredo. Thereafter, he procured his bachelor of arts
and Doctor of Laws degrees from the Catholic St. Mary's University
in San Antonio
. After St. Mary's, Garcia was a second lieutenant
in the United States Army
artillery
. In 1964, he married the former Rosario Flores (born October 8, 1941), an educator and philharmonic singer. The couple had three children: Leticia (born 1964), Cristina (April 22, 1967—February 20, 1999), and Julio, Jr. (born 1970). Leticia and Julio became attorneys and practiced law, both criminal and civil, with their father at the former law office at 2602 Arkansas Street.
Mrs. Garcia was named the "Outstanding Educator" of 2007 by the Texas Homeless Network, which cited her decade
of teaching homeless children at Bethany House
in Laredo. Retired from the United Independent School District, she was thereafter affiliated with Texas A&M International University
in Laredo. She is a pioneer in bilingual education
and the open classroom
concept.
for the indigent before the 49th Judicial District Court, the first state court created in Webb County by the Texas Legislature. He also became involved in charitable, legal, and community projects. He helped to establish a program to treat heroin users through the administration of methadone
. He served as chairman of the Laredo Migrant Council. Each year he donated many hours of legal services to the underprivileged. He helped to establish the Laredo legal aid program and worked against child abuse
.
Garcia was known for his craftiness and originality in the courtroom. He often wore cowboy
boots. He once told a justice of the peace
that the judge had no authority to dismiss the case before them. The JP said, "Watch me," and dismissed the case. Garcia replied, "Thank you" and walked out of the courtroom, having tricked the JP into doing what Garcia wanted. Garcia even once pounded on the bar in front of the jury
so strongly that he broke a bone in his hand.
Garcia frequently took tough cases, having once defended former first assistant district attorney Ramon Villafranca on federal corruption charges.
In 2004, Garcia represented the three cousin
s, Larry Dovalina (city manager
from 2000 to 2006), Agustin Dovalina (then police chief), and Ramon H. Dovalina (Laredo Community College
president from 1995 to 2007), in a $6 million libel suit against the Laredo Morning Times
and then reporter Tricia Cortez after the newspaper
on June 13, 2004, carried a story about a controversy over property tax
appraisals. The article quotes a Laredo citizen, Patricio Canavati, who called the trio "Robalinas". The LMT itself did not question the Dovalinas' integrity but instead quoted Canavati, owner of Quality Motors, in a public meeting. The suit was ultimately dropped in 2007, after Ramon Dovalina had already withdrawn from the case. The plaintiffs could not prove both malice
on the part of the LMT and a "reckless disregard for the truth," as required for public figure
s who seek libel judgments.
(born 1954). He resumed private practice in 1989 and was ultimately joined by his daughter and son.
Garcia began working in political campaigns with the election of his father-in-law
, Porfirio L. Flores (1912–1993), as Webb County sheriff
. In 1978, he managed the race of his former law associate, Antonio "Tony" Zardenetta, for the 111th District Court, the second of four state courts to have been created in Laredo. Zardenetta, a cousin of Mrs. Garcia's who resides in San Antonio, had previously served for three years by appointment as judge of the county court-at law in Laredo. Zardenetta recalled: "Julio took charge of everything. He was one heck of a campaign manager. He was like El Cid
from Spain
, galvanizing all the troops and marshaling all the resources," recalled Zardenetta in an interview with the Laredo Morning Times on the occasion of Garcia's passing. Carlos Zaffirini, Sr., another Laredo lawyer and the husband of State Senator Judith Zaffirini
, said that Garcia's greatest strength in politics was in energizing grassroots
supporters.
Julio Garcia, Jr., said that his father had a "passion for the law . . . so intense and so deep that it piqued your interest. . . . He's irreplaceable. There was nobody like him. He's one of those characters that someone who's writing a best-seller would dream up. . . . "
Judge Oscar J. Hale, Jr., elected in 2004 and 2008, described his fallen friend as one who "exemplified the work ethic
and perseverance in all aspects of life. Our community may be saddened that it has lost one of its best advocates for justice, but we should all rest assured knowing that in heaven, we now have our own legal guardian." Hale's father, Oscar Hale, Sr., chief investigator for the DA's office, called Garcia "a tough guy with a big heart."
and a staphylococcus
infection.
In addition to his wife and two surviving children and law partners, he was survived by three grandchildren, Zoraida, Julio, III, and Benjamin Garcia; a sister, Laura Garcia Magnon, and his mother-in-law, Esperanza Flores. Services were held on October 21, 2008, at San Agustin Cathedral in the historic downtown plaza. A "Who's Who of Laredo" was in attendance. Banker Jorge Verduzco declared: "God
gives us His love. He lends us His love. Thank you, dear Lord, for lending us Julio." Father Dominic Francis Peridans, previously with the Congregation of St. John in Laredo, presided over the mass. Father Francis described Garcia as "a rock of strength for so many."
Interment was in the family plot of Calvary Catholic Cemetery off Saunders Street. Pallbearer
s included Judge Jesus "Chuy" Garza and DA Joe Rubio.
In an interview with the Laredo Morning Times upon Garcia's death, outgoing DA Joe Rubio recalled his predecessor as being one who was available to "help out" in both the legal and political realms. "[He gave] young lawyers who came back to Webb County to practice advice, financial support. He'd help us get started, dozens of us. . . . He not only had a legal mind, but he was a great trial attorney. He had the ability to connect with the jury. He could explain complicated theories in everyday terms. And his work ethic
was tremendous. Nobody was going to outwork him in preparing for a trial. That same work ethic applied to politics. When he wanted to support someone for public office, he was relentless in preparing a political campaign."
U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, who grew up as Garcia's neighbor, recalled him as "a high-intensity kind of guy. . . . Certain people are giants of their profession, and by definition, they are just a select few. [He] was one of them."
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, defined by a headline writer as a "legal lion" known for his passion, shrewdness, and theatrics in the courtoom." Garcia also served from 1981 to 1988 as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of the 49th Judicial District of heavily Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
. The district then included Webb
Webb County, Texas
Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The official 2010 population for the county is 250,304. In 2000, its population was 193,117, and in 2006 its population had been estimated to have reached to 231,470. Its county seat is Laredo...
, Zapata, Dimmit
Dimmit County, Texas
Dimmit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 10,248. It is named for Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The reason the county name differs is because the bill creating the county misspelled Dimmitt's name...
, and Jim Hogg counties, but it is now confined to Webb and Zapata counties.
Early years, family, education, military
Garcia was born in Laredo to Julio Garcia, Jr. (1910–1974), and the former Antonia Rubio (1914–1987). His father was employed by the Texas Mexican RailwayTexas Mexican Railway
The Texas Mexican Railway is a class 1 railroad that operates as a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Railway in Texas. It is often referred to as the Tex-Mex, or TexMex Railway....
, and his mother created the first neighborhood group
Neighborhood association
A neighborhood association is a group of residents or property owners who advocate for or organize activities within a neighborhood. An association may have elected leaders and voluntary dues....
and the first savings and loan association
Savings and loan association
A savings and loan association , also known as a thrift, is a financial institution that specializes in accepting savings deposits and making mortgage and other loans...
in Laredo. Garcia graduated with honors in 1959 from the Roman Catholic-affiliated St. Joseph Academy in Laredo. Thereafter, he procured his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Doctor of Laws degrees from the Catholic St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. After St. Mary's, Garcia was a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. In 1964, he married the former Rosario Flores (born October 8, 1941), an educator and philharmonic singer. The couple had three children: Leticia (born 1964), Cristina (April 22, 1967—February 20, 1999), and Julio, Jr. (born 1970). Leticia and Julio became attorneys and practiced law, both criminal and civil, with their father at the former law office at 2602 Arkansas Street.
Mrs. Garcia was named the "Outstanding Educator" of 2007 by the Texas Homeless Network, which cited her decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
of teaching homeless children at Bethany House
Bethany House (Laredo, Texas)
Bethany House is a settlement house, a 5013 nonprofit organization, that assists the homeless and other indigent in Laredo and Webb County, Texas. It was founded in 1982 by the Roman Catholic Father Charles M...
in Laredo. Retired from the United Independent School District, she was thereafter affiliated with Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University, often referred to as TAMIU, is a public, co-educational, state-supported university located in Laredo, Texas...
in Laredo. She is a pioneer in bilingual education
Bilingual education
Bilingual education involves teaching academic content in two languages, in a native and secondary language with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model.-Bilingual education program models:...
and the open classroom
Open classroom
An open classroom is a student-centered classroom design format popular in the United States in the 1970s. In its most extreme form, entire schools were built without interior walls, which made teaching loud and disruptive in worst case scenarios - for most schools this has not been as big a...
concept.
Legal practice
Garcia began his legal career in San Antonio at the law office of Arthur A. Domangue (1917–1977) in the Tower Life Building. He specialized in worker's compensation and represented more than three hundred injured employees in his first year of practice. In 1967, he and Rosario returned to Laredo, where he joined the firm of Raymond Goodman (1917–1985) and William W. Allen. He then took cases as public defenderPublic defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
for the indigent before the 49th Judicial District Court, the first state court created in Webb County by the Texas Legislature. He also became involved in charitable, legal, and community projects. He helped to establish a program to treat heroin users through the administration of methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
. He served as chairman of the Laredo Migrant Council. Each year he donated many hours of legal services to the underprivileged. He helped to establish the Laredo legal aid program and worked against child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
.
Garcia was known for his craftiness and originality in the courtroom. He often wore cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
boots. He once told a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
that the judge had no authority to dismiss the case before them. The JP said, "Watch me," and dismissed the case. Garcia replied, "Thank you" and walked out of the courtroom, having tricked the JP into doing what Garcia wanted. Garcia even once pounded on the bar in front of the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
so strongly that he broke a bone in his hand.
Garcia frequently took tough cases, having once defended former first assistant district attorney Ramon Villafranca on federal corruption charges.
In 2004, Garcia represented the three cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
s, Larry Dovalina (city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
from 2000 to 2006), Agustin Dovalina (then police chief), and Ramon H. Dovalina (Laredo Community College
Laredo Community College
The Laredo Community College, or LCC, was established as Laredo Junior College on September 28, 1947, by the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, the seat of Webb County in south Texas...
president from 1995 to 2007), in a $6 million libel suit against the Laredo Morning Times
Laredo Morning Times
The Laredo Morning Times is a daily newspaper publication based in Laredo, Texas, USA. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation.The Laredo Morning Times was founded on June 14, 1881 as "the Laredo Weekly," a four-page newspaper published by James Saunders Penn. Two years later, the paper became a...
and then reporter Tricia Cortez after the newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
on June 13, 2004, carried a story about a controversy over property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
appraisals. The article quotes a Laredo citizen, Patricio Canavati, who called the trio "Robalinas". The LMT itself did not question the Dovalinas' integrity but instead quoted Canavati, owner of Quality Motors, in a public meeting. The suit was ultimately dropped in 2007, after Ramon Dovalina had already withdrawn from the case. The plaintiffs could not prove both malice
Malice
Malice may refer to:* Malice , a legal term describing the intent to harm* Jerry Tuite , American professional wrestler also known by the ring name Malice-Entertainment:...
on the part of the LMT and a "reckless disregard for the truth," as required for public figure
Public figure
Public figure is a legal term applied in the context of defamation actions as well as invasion of privacy. A public figure cannot base a lawsuit on incorrect harmful statements unless there is proof that the writer or publisher acted with actual malice...
s who seek libel judgments.
Webb County campaigns
In 1980, Garcia won a hard-fought Democratic nomination for district attorney for the right to succeed the retiring Charles Robert Borchers (1943–1997), who served from 1973 to 1980. Garcia was reelected in 1984 but did not pursue a third term in 1988, when he was succeeded by a distant relative, Joe Rubio, Jr.Joe Rubio, Jr.
Jose Marcelino Rubio, Jr., known as Joe Rubio, Jr. , is the former district attorney for Webb and Zapata counties in south Texas, USA. Rubio is the longest serving DA for the 49th Judicial District. Rubio became DA on January 1, 1989...
(born 1954). He resumed private practice in 1989 and was ultimately joined by his daughter and son.
Garcia began working in political campaigns with the election of his father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
, Porfirio L. Flores (1912–1993), as Webb County sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. In 1978, he managed the race of his former law associate, Antonio "Tony" Zardenetta, for the 111th District Court, the second of four state courts to have been created in Laredo. Zardenetta, a cousin of Mrs. Garcia's who resides in San Antonio, had previously served for three years by appointment as judge of the county court-at law in Laredo. Zardenetta recalled: "Julio took charge of everything. He was one heck of a campaign manager. He was like El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, galvanizing all the troops and marshaling all the resources," recalled Zardenetta in an interview with the Laredo Morning Times on the occasion of Garcia's passing. Carlos Zaffirini, Sr., another Laredo lawyer and the husband of State Senator Judith Zaffirini
Judith Zaffirini
Judith Zaffirini is a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate representing the 21st District, which includes her home city of Laredo. On January 9, 2007, Zaffirini became the second in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, where she has served since 1987...
, said that Garcia's greatest strength in politics was in energizing grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
supporters.
Julio Garcia, Jr., said that his father had a "passion for the law . . . so intense and so deep that it piqued your interest. . . . He's irreplaceable. There was nobody like him. He's one of those characters that someone who's writing a best-seller would dream up. . . . "
Judge Oscar J. Hale, Jr., elected in 2004 and 2008, described his fallen friend as one who "exemplified the work ethic
Work ethic
Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An example would be the Protestant work ethic...
and perseverance in all aspects of life. Our community may be saddened that it has lost one of its best advocates for justice, but we should all rest assured knowing that in heaven, we now have our own legal guardian." Hale's father, Oscar Hale, Sr., chief investigator for the DA's office, called Garcia "a tough guy with a big heart."
Death and legacy
Garcia had a history of diabetes. He died in Laredo Medical Center of complications from pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and a staphylococcus
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
infection.
In addition to his wife and two surviving children and law partners, he was survived by three grandchildren, Zoraida, Julio, III, and Benjamin Garcia; a sister, Laura Garcia Magnon, and his mother-in-law, Esperanza Flores. Services were held on October 21, 2008, at San Agustin Cathedral in the historic downtown plaza. A "Who's Who of Laredo" was in attendance. Banker Jorge Verduzco declared: "God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
gives us His love. He lends us His love. Thank you, dear Lord, for lending us Julio." Father Dominic Francis Peridans, previously with the Congregation of St. John in Laredo, presided over the mass. Father Francis described Garcia as "a rock of strength for so many."
Pallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s included Judge Jesus "Chuy" Garza and DA Joe Rubio.
In an interview with the Laredo Morning Times upon Garcia's death, outgoing DA Joe Rubio recalled his predecessor as being one who was available to "help out" in both the legal and political realms. "[He gave] young lawyers who came back to Webb County to practice advice, financial support. He'd help us get started, dozens of us. . . . He not only had a legal mind, but he was a great trial attorney. He had the ability to connect with the jury. He could explain complicated theories in everyday terms. And his work ethic
Work ethic
Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An example would be the Protestant work ethic...
was tremendous. Nobody was going to outwork him in preparing for a trial. That same work ethic applied to politics. When he wanted to support someone for public office, he was relentless in preparing a political campaign."
U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, who grew up as Garcia's neighbor, recalled him as "a high-intensity kind of guy. . . . Certain people are giants of their profession, and by definition, they are just a select few. [He] was one of them."