# Fernando Rodriguez, Jr.
Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. (born 1969) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas since 2018.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr) He was appointed by President Donald J. Trump.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) He sits in the Brownsville Division of the court.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) |
| Appointed by | Donald J. Trump[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) |
| Confirmed | June 5, 2018 (Senate voted 96 to 0)[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150440) |
| Born | 1969 in Harlingen, Texas[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) |
| Education | B.A., Yale University, 1991; J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 1997[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) |
## Early life and education
Rodriguez was born in 1969 in [Harlingen, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/harlingen-texas).[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) He received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from Yale University in 1991.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) He earned a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin in 1997.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr) • [2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056)
## Legal career
After graduating from Yale, Rodriguez worked from 1991 to 1994 as a teacher with Teach for America at Scarborough Elementary in Houston, Texas.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) He began his legal career as a briefing attorney for Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the [Supreme Court of Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-texas), serving from 1997 to 1998.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr) • [2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056)
Rodriguez then spent twelve years in private practice with a law firm in Dallas, Texas, representing corporate clients in complex commercial litigation.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr) In 2010, he joined the International Justice Mission, serving from 2010 to 2018 as Field Office Director, first in Bolivia, from 2010 to 2013, and then in the [Dominican Republic](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominican-republic), from 2013 to 2018.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr) • [2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) In that role, he led efforts to work alongside public justice system actors to secure convictions for child sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as to restore survivors.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr)
## Federal judicial service
President Donald J. Trump nominated Rodriguez to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 7, 2017.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) The Senate confirmed him on June 5, 2018, by a vote of 96 to 0.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150440) He received his commission on June 12, 2018.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056) He has served since June 2018 as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division.[1](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr)
## References
1. [SDTX Bench Bar Conference Bio - Judge Fernando Rodriguez, Jr.](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-fernando-rodriguez-jr)
2. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Fernando Rodriguez, Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/4733056)
3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, June 5, 2018](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1150440)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Q to Sc*
*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license