NEWS — Judge Enrique “Henry” Fernandez portrait unveiled after ceremony

By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times

Family members, friends and colleagues of the late 63rd Judicial District Judge Enrique “Henry” Fernandez remembered his life and legacy during a ceremony Friday to mark the unveiling of his official portrait.

Fernandez’s portrait now hangs with those of his predecessors inside the second-floor courtroom at the Val Verde County Judicial Center, 100 E. Broadway St. The courtroom was the setting for Friday’s portrait unveiling ceremony.

83rd Judicial District Judge Robert E. Cadena welcomed those attending

the ceremony, saying, “I’m very happy to welcome all of you to this important event. . . to place the portrait of my friend, colleague and mentor, Judge Enrique ‘Henry’ Fernandez, on the wall of our courtroom today in remembrance of his devotion to the community and to our jurisprudence in Val Verde County and across the 63rd Judicial District.”

Cadena recognized several individuals and organizations who helped make the event possible.

Cadena, whose voice occasionally shook with emotion, spoke about Fernandez’s legacy, saying Fernandez was willing “to live his life committed and devoted to the intellectual commitment and personal sacrifice” required to be a judge.

Cadena also was the first of many of the morning’s speakers to recognize Dr. Mayra Latoni-Fernandez, Fernandez’s widow; and Joey Fernandez, Fernandez’s son, both of whom were present for the ceremony.

Cadena called Fernandez “a servant leader who never lost his sense of humility.”

“(Judge Fernandez) was elected on purpose to serve a purpose: That of administering fair and impartial justice to the citizens of his judicial district. He was committed, and I saw it day to day, committed to fairness and equality of justice rendered by a court, but he was much more than an extremely capable and knowledgeable jurist. He was a great role model, a source of wisdom, and, more importantly to me, a trusted colleague and friend.”

Cadena then called on Val Verde County Court-at-Law Judge Sergio Gonzalez.

Gonzalez spoke about growing up, going to school and playing ball with Henry Fernandez as young men in Del Rio.

Gonzalez noted Fernandez served as 63rd Judicial District Judge from 2009 to 2020, saying Fernandez carried the responsibility “with integrity, fairness and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.”

Gonzalez spoke about the metal bench he had donated in Fernandez’s memory and which was placed on the sidewalk outside the courthouse, adding he hoped it would serve as “a place of rest, a place of pause before entering this courthouse.”

Gonzalez also recognized Fernandez’s widow and son, as well as Fernandez’s sister, Conchita San Miguel and her husband, Joe San Miguel; his brothers, Roberto “Bobby” Fernandez and wife Margot; his brother Arturo Fernandez and wife Antonia; his brother Richard. The judge also recognized Fernandez’s uncle, former Val Verde County Judge Mike Fernandez and other Fernandez family members.

District Attorney Suzanne West spoke next, recalling her memories of working with Fernandez and saying how he helped her feel at home after she moved to Del Rio with her family.

West said Fernandez always displayed “a humanness no law school can teach” and told audience members Fernandez “loved the law and the people the law is meant to serve.”

“His love of the law was absolutely inseparable from his love of people. He carried a weight with him every day that came from knowing what he did affected human lives every single day. He knew that a parent might lose custody of their child. He knew a defendant might lose their freedom. I watched him carry that weight heavily and fairly in everything he did,” West said.

Roy Barrera, a retired sheriff’s office deputy and long-time bailiff in the state district court, spoke about his pride when Fernandez was elected, the first Hispanic elected to the state district court bench in Del Rio.

Other former colleagues and friends of Fernandez also spoke to the audience. They included former District Attorney Michael Bagley, former District Attorney Fred Hernandez, former Fernandez law partners Jesus Dovalina and Byron Hodge, Del Rio attorney David Ortiz and County Attorney David Martinez.

Each of the speakers shared their own special memories of Fernandez.

Bagley called Fernandez “a major asset to the legal community” in Del Rio and said Fernandez “had a love for his family that knew no bounds.”

Dovalina said he came to Del Rio in 1988 and shared several stories, often humorous, of their long friendship and professional association.

“He was a great husband, a great father, a great brother, and to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, a great friend. I miss you,” Dovalina said.

Hernandez also shared memories of his long friendship and professional association with Fernandez.

Hernandez said how happy Fernandez was to be Mayra’s husband and Joey’s father. He told the story of how he and Judge Gonzalez drove to San Antonio when Fernandez was in the hospital there, taking along a judge’s robe because Fernandez wanted to swear in his son Joey after Joey graduated from law school.

Ortiz spoke about how he and Fernandez shared their love for the University of Texas. He spoke about how entwined all of the local families are.

Ortiz read a passage from Colossians 3:12, which he said he felt described Fernandez:

“‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, wholly and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ As I read that verse, it came to me: That’s Henry. That’s exactly who he is.”

Martinez told the audience he had known Fernandez since childhood and reminded those attending that Fernandez was a gifted athlete. He said Fernandez’s life was marked by “strength, selflessness and service.”

Martinez spoke about the closeness of the Martinez, Gonzalez and Fernandez families, all of whom were involved in the founding of the United Civic Organization (UCO), whose mission continues to be “improving the lives of the less fortunate in our barrio and creating scholarship opportunities for many students at Del Rio High School.”

He said Fernandez “had a true servant’s heart, in every aspect of his life.”

Hodge recalled how, although he had known Fernandez’s family, he first met Fernandez when Fernandez came to his office to apply for a job after graduating from law school.

Hodge said he and Fernandez remained close and said Fernandez “was a good man, a superb lawyer, and he was an excellent friend.”

The final speaker at the ceremony was Fernandez’s older brother, Roberto “Bobby” Fernandez.

Fernandez thanked everyone for organizing event and the greatest joy of the last year of Fernandez’s life was the swearing-in of his son Joey.

He recognized the patriarch of the Fernandez family in Del Rio, former Val Verde County Judge Mike Fernandez, one of many Fernandez family members present for the event.

Fernandez also spoke about the important legacy left by “the boy from the barrio” and the family unity and love that marked his brother’s life.

Following the speeches, Cadena presented Mayra Latoni-Fernandez and Joey Fernandez with a court challenge coin he had struck to commemorate his former colleague, then invited them to step to the back of the courtroom for the formal unveiling of Fernandez’s official portrait.

Following the ceremony in the courtroom, everyone reassembled on the sidewalk outside the courthouse where the commemorative bench was unveiled.

The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.