Austin News

DALLAS – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have expressed their support for the nominations of Ernesto “Ernest” Gonzalez and Judge Leon Schydlower for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Del Rio and El Paso, respectively.

In a statement, Sen. Cornyn said, “With decades of experience in Texas courtrooms, Judge Leon Schydlower and Ernest Gonzalez have the legal acumen and institutional knowledge required to excel on the federal bench. I was proud to recommend each of them for these positions alongside Senator Cruz, and I look forward to voting on their nominations in the Senate soon."

Sen. Cruz echoed his support, stating, “Judge Leon Schydlower and Ernest Gonzalez were both subject to rigorous vetting by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee that Senator Cornyn and I use for all judicial nominations. They have the experience to be effective U.S. district judges."

The nominations of Gonzalez and Judge Schydlower were recommended to President Biden following a thorough review and interview process by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC), which was established by Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz. The FJEC is composed of leading attorneys in Texas and is responsible for identifying the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies.

Ernest Gonzalez, currently a Senior Attorney Advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section, has an extensive legal background. He has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Eastern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas, as well as an Assistant District Attorney in Bexar County. Gonzalez received his J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.

Judge Leon Schydlower brings a wealth of experience to the bench. He has been a United States Magistrate Judge since 2015 and has previously worked in private practice and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He has also served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Judge Schydlower earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

The nominations of Ernesto Gonzalez and Judge Leon Schydlower highlight the commitment of Senators Cornyn and Cruz to selecting highly qualified candidates for federal judicial positions. With their extensive experience and expertise, Gonzalez and Judge Schydlower are well-equipped to serve as U.S. district judges in the Western District of Texas. Their nominations will now proceed to the Senate for voting.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-cruz-on-gonzalez-and-schydlower-nominations-for-western-district-of-texas/