Meant for the bench
by Catherine Deyarmond
In middle school, the Hon. Lori Valenzuela (J.D. ’98) already knew she wanted to be a lawyer with aspirations of becoming a judge.
By high school, Valenzuela had set her sights on first becoming a prosecutor.
“I understood it would take a long time and lots of work to become a judge,” she said.
After earning her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin, she said the St. Mary’s University School of Law was the right place to make her childhood dreams a reality.
Justice for all
Valenzuela now serves as a justice on the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio and is one of seven justices in an appellate court that presides over 32 counties.
She was appointed to the court in 2021 to fill a vacancy and was then elected to the office in 2022.
Valenzuela attributed her preparedness for becoming a prosecutor to her classes in evidence and trial advocacy, citing the lessons she learned from Professor Emeritus David Schlueter, J.D.
“I gained much-needed tools and skills, and I am very grateful I took those classes,” she said. “I also had an opportunity while in school to work at the District Attorney’s Office. After my first year, I was a paid intern working 20 hours a week while attending school until I graduated and was hired as a prosecutor.”
Coincidentally, she met her husband, Sean McCleskey (J.D. ’98), while they were both interning at the DA’s Office. Their daughter is following in the family tradition as a second-year J.D. student at St. Mary’s.
The road to the bench
After 11 years at the District Attorney’s Office, Valenzuela opened a practice in criminal defense work.
In 2009, then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry approved the creation of three district courts in Bexar County by the Texas Legislature. Perry appointed Valenzuela to the newly created 437th District Court, presiding over felony cases for Bexar County.
“Initially, coming to St. Mary’s was because of its location and our family connection. Once I got here, I loved the community and its environment built on faith.”
— Lori Valenzuela (J.D. ’98)
Then, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her to the Fourth Court of Appeals in 2021, where she said she still enjoys serving her community as a judge.
“As long as we do it the way we should with a faithfulness to the law and to the Constitution, we are serving everyone with integrity and fairness,” she said. “It is a wonderful opportunity and blessing to be a part of this. St. Mary’s prepared me for this journey.”
Family tradition
Her father, Maj. Gen. Alfred A. Valenzuela (B.A. ’70, M.A. ’79), U.S. Army, Ret., earned both degrees in Political Science at St. Mary’s. During law school, Lori Valenzuela and her brother, Alfred A. Valenzuela II (B.A. ’96) were roommates.
“Initially, coming to St. Mary’s was because of its location and our family connection,” she said. “Once I got here, I loved the community and its environment built on faith.”
