Judge J. Manuel Bañales: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. J. Manuel Bañales (Ret.) was a presiding judge for the Fifth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas. He was appointed presiding judge by former Governor Rick Perry in 2007. Bañales retired from the position in 2011. After his retirement, he continued to serve as a senior judge and joined JW Arbitrations as a private mediator.

In addition to serving in that role, Bañales also served as a judge for the 105th District Court (1987 to 2010). As such, he presided over Kenedy, Kleberg, and Nueces Counties.

Prior to assuming the bench, Bañales worked as a private practice attorney at several law firms beginning in 1975. He capped off his time in private practice with a five-year stint in solo practice (1981 to 1986).

Bañales received a B.A. in political science from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1972. He went on to complete a J.D. at the Bates College of Law (now the University of Houston Law Center) in 1974. Bañales was board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1982.

He has served on the Citizens’ Commission of the Texas Judicial System, the Curriculum Committee of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, Inc., and the Jury Assembly and Administration Task Force.

His memberships included the South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services, Inc. (president); the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; the Texas Trial Lawyers Association; the Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow); the Corpus Christi Bar Association (Board of Directors); the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas (founding member); the Chicano Bar Association of South Texas (founding member and past president); the Texas Center for the Judiciary (Board of Directors); and the Juvenile Board for Nueces County (chair).

A married father of five, Bañales was born in El Paso, Texas.