The Hon. Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt is a judge for the 449th District Court in Hidalgo County, Texas. Rodriguez-Betancourt was elected to the bench on November 8, 2016. At the time of her election, she was the youngest district court judge in the State of Texas.
The 449th State District Court was created to specialize in the processing of juvenile cases. Rodriguez-Betancourt played an instrumental role in the approval of the Hidalgo County LIFELINES Girls Juvenile Mental Health Specialty Court and the Hidalgo County Juvenile Drug Specialty Court.
Rodriguez-Betancourt earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas – Pan American in 2001. She then completed a J.D. at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 2005.
After graduating from law school, Rodriguez-Betancourt entered into private practice. She opened her own law office in 2012, handling federal and state criminal cases, family law, and personal injury cases. She also represented several Hidalgo County school districts.
Her memberships have included the Texas Bar Foundation, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission.
She is a recipient of the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Advocate Award from the Boys & Girls Club, the Women of Distinction Rising Award from the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Public Elected Official of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers (Texas LRGV Branch).
Born and raised in Edinburg, Texas, Rodriguez-Betancourt graduated from Edinburg High School. She and her husband, J.R., have three daughters.
She is registered as a Democrat.
