Texas federal judge dies

Federal Judge PhiIlip Martinez, who presides over the West Texas District Court, died suddenly on Friday, February 26, at the age of 63, it was reported.

Martínez, a magistrate of great respect in the federal judicial circle, sentenced high-profile cases throughout his career as a lawyer.

Martínez was born in 1957 in El Paso, Texas and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, followed by a law degree from Harvard.

Martinez initially engaged in private practice in his hometown from 1982 to 1990, and was later elected El Paso County Judge, and in Court Number One from 1991 to 1994, and in District Court 327 before be nominated by President George Bush as a federal judge.

Martínez obtained the presidential nomination in 2001, and was ratified by the Senate on February 5, 2002.

Since then Judge Martinez has served as a judge for the Western District of Texas in his hometown.

In addition to ruling in the case of Luis Posada Carriles, accused of terrorism by the government of Cuba, Judge Martínez also issued relevant sentences such as the cessation of gambling operations at the Speaking Rock facilities of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, when he failed in this case in favor of the Texas government.

Among his pending cases is the complaint to determine if the death of a man in El Paso in 2015, who was going through a mental health crisis, was caused by poor training of officers from the El Paso Police Department.

“I am saddened to hear the passing of Judge Philip Martínez. Our community has lost a great leader, a great public servant dedicated to justice,” said Congresswoman Verónica Escobar.

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