Fernando Rodriguez Jr.

Fernando Rodriguez Jr. (born 1969) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He was appointed in 2018 by President Donald Trump.

Biography

Rodriguez was born in 1969 in Harlingen, Texas. He graduated from Yale University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts. From 1991 to 1994, he was a teacher at an elementary school in Houston through Teach For America.

Before becoming a judge, Rodriguez worked as a field office director in the Dominican Republic for International Justice Mission, where he led efforts to combat sex trafficking of children. His work contributed to the rescue of more than 110 victims and 21 convictions of the perpetrators. He previously led similar efforts against the sexual abuse of children in Bolivia.

Federal judicial service

On September 7, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Rodriguez to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to the seat vacated by Judge Gregg Costa, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on May 20, 2014. On November 29, 2017, a hearing was held on his nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On January 11, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote. On June 5, 2018, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 94–1 vote. Later that day, Rodriguez was confirmed by a 96–0 vote. He received his judicial commission on June 12, 2018.