Former Dallas Judge Says Education Opens Doors Of Opportunity
Judge Lena Levario started out as a public defender, but when a judge retired, then Governor Ann Richards appointed Levario in 1993 to the 204th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. Levario served on the bench for nine years. "I hadn't even thought about being a judge. I came home and my husband said, 'Aren't you the one that is always complaining about those idiot judges?,' that opened my eyes that I could be good in that position. In my eyes, it seemed unattainable. At the time, all of the judges were older, Anglo and I had never imagined myself in that position. I didn't know any judges when I was growing up. It was the best job that I have ever had. It was an honor to be appointed by Governor Richards," said Levario.
"My parents grew up in West Texas and lived under the Jim Crow laws. They suffered a lot of blatant discrimination. My father told me that I would grow up to be a civil rights lawyer. I was the first person in my family to go to college," said Levario, who earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology and her law degree from Texas Tech University.
Levario went looking for a job in civil rights but was basically laughed at because the current political climate surrounding minorities and civil rights was not a positive one. She went to work for a private attorney and shadowed his criminal law cases. The spark was lit and Levario loved fighting for the underdog. "I saw of lot of injustices within criminal justice system. I wanted to make sure that my clients received justice," said Levario.
Levario was in private practice handling family, child protective services, juvenile and criminal law cases for 12 years. She was hired by the City of Dallas to investigate the "Fake Drug Scandal" which dealt with police misconduct. As a result of her investigation changes were made at the Dallas Police Department. As a judge, Levario presided over STAR Court which helped women with a history of prostitution get their lives back on track.
"The more advanced degree you have, the more money you will be able to make. You will have more options available to you. You can be more involved in your community and be part of those that make policy decisions," said Levario.
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com