Elma Salinas Ender facts for kids

Elma Teresa Ender (born August 11, 1953) is an American attorney and former judge. She made history as the youngest woman and the first Hispanic female to serve as a state district court judge in the U.S. state of Texas.

In 1983, she was chosen by then Governor Mark White to be the first judge of the new 341st Judicial District. This court was based in her hometown of Laredo. Judge Ender served for twenty-nine years in this important role before she retired on December 31, 2012. She served longer than any other judge in Webb County's state courts during recent decades.

Early Life and Education

Elma Salinas Ender is the youngest of three children. Her parents were Oscar David Salinas, Sr., and Elma Lopez. Her mother worked for many years in the Webb County tax office. Judge Ender has two brothers, Oscar David Salinas Jr. and Juan Alberto Salinas.

She graduated from J. W. Nixon High School in Laredo in 1970. In 1974, she earned her college degree in accounting and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. Later, in 1978, she completed her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio.

Serving on the Court

Judge Ender shared that she did not know she would be the first Hispanic woman state district court judge in Texas. She remembered that Governor Mark White made sure to appoint people to courts and committees who represented the diverse population of Texas.

Her job as a judge included handling cases involving young people. She noticed a big increase in cases involving young people and child safety in Webb County. In the 1990s, she supported laws that aimed to make public school classes smaller and to test students for learning difficulties. Judge Ender also helped fight for the creation of Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

In 1984, Judge Ender was elected to her first four-year term on the court. She was reelected many times without anyone running against her. She also served as the main administrative judge for the Webb County district courts. She decided not to run for an eighth term in 2012. Another Hispanic woman, Beckie Palomo, was then chosen by voters to take her place.

In 2011, Judge Ender made a decision during a court case that prevented a family from watching the jury selection process. She explained that this was due to fire safety rules and limited space in the courtroom. Later, in 2013, after Judge Ender had retired, a higher court called the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio reviewed this decision. The appeals court decided that the family's rights were affected because they could not observe the jury selection. The appeals court ordered a new trial for the case.

Personal Life

Elma Salinas Ender married David Allen Ender in 1986. They have two daughters.

In 2002, Rotary International recognized Judge Ender as a Paul Harris Fellow. In 2012, the Laredo Morning Times newspaper honored her as "Laredoan of the Year."

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists