# Frank Montalvo
Frank Montalvo (born 1956) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003 and assumed senior status on December 1, 2022.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) |
| Confirmed | July 31, 2003 (Senate voted 95 to 0)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) • [2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080321) |
| Senior status | December 1, 2022[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) |
| Born | 1956, Bayamon, Puerto Rico[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) |
| Education | B.S., University of Puerto Rico, 1976; M.S., University of Michigan, 1977; J.D., Wayne State University Law School, 1985[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) |
## Early life and education
Montalvo was born in 1956 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) from the University of Puerto Rico in 1976 and a [Master of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/master-of-science) from the University of Michigan in 1977.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) He earned his [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from Wayne State University Law School in 1985.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941)
## Legal career
Montalvo worked as an engineer for [General Motors](https://www.edgepedia.org/general-motors) from 1983 to 1988.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) He then practiced law privately in [San Antonio](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-antonio), Texas, from 1988 to 1994.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) From 1995 to 2003, he served as a judge of the Bexar County Two Hundred and Eighty-Eighth District Court in Texas.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941)
## Federal judicial service
President [George W. Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-w-bush) nominated Montalvo to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas on May 1, 2003.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) The Senate confirmed him on July 31, 2003, by a vote of 95 to 0.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) • [2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080321) He received his commission on August 1, 2003.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) He assumed senior status on December 1, 2022.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941) As a senior judge, he has issued standing orders on matters including appearances in criminal cases, the referral of [Social Security](https://www.edgepedia.org/social-security) cases, and recusal, and he has been involved with the Fort Hood Re-Entry / Diversion Program, an interagency agreement regarding an alternative-to-prosecution program for oversight of post-guilty-plea diversion participants.[3](https://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/court-staff/u-s-district-judge-frank-montalvo/)
## Notable cases
In 2013, Montalvo presided over a wrongful death lawsuit arising from the fatal 2008 beating of 27-year-old [Hank Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/hank-johnson) in Hearne, Texas; the case had been transferred to his court, and the plaintiff's family was awarded an $8.6 million judgment.[4](https://foift.org/2014/01/30/complaint-filed-judges-order-remove-internet-video/) On May 1, 2013, Montalvo ordered that a video connected to the case be removed from the Internet and barred the plaintiff, Sandi Johnson, from disclosing information about a woman who had appeared in the video and had asked him for a protective order, stating that the video was being used to harass and bully her online.[4](https://foift.org/2014/01/30/complaint-filed-judges-order-remove-internet-video/) In January 2014, lawyer Ty Clevenger filed a complaint with the [United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit) accusing Montalvo of misconduct, alleging that the order was issued based on information from only one side and without a hearing or an opportunity to respond, and that it violated his client's right to free speech.[4](https://foift.org/2014/01/30/complaint-filed-judges-order-remove-internet-video/) Montalvo declined to comment on the complaint.[4](https://foift.org/2014/01/30/complaint-filed-judges-order-remove-internet-video/)
## References
1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Frank Montalvo](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391941)
2. [Senate Roll Call Vote, July 31, 2003](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080321)
3. [U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas](https://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/court-staff/u-s-district-judge-frank-montalvo/)
4. [Complaint filed over judge's order to remove Internet video](https://foift.org/2014/01/30/complaint-filed-judges-order-remove-internet-video/)
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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 Mc to My*
*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 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