Hon. Selena Solis, El Paso

Judge Selena N. Solis is a Texas native; born and raised in Austin. She earned her undergraduate degree in Latin American Studies with an emphasis in political science at the University of Texas at Austin. Before attending law school, Judge Solis worked for two years as an Assistant to the Director of the Mexican Studies Center, Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin. She left the state’s capital for the nation’s capital and earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence at American University Washington College of Law.

Following law school, Judge Solis dedicated her legal career to public interest law, advocating on behalf of indigent, low wage workers. In the span of her public interest law career, she worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas, El Paso office for 14 ½ years; and as a civil rights attorney for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

Before being elected to the state court bench, Judge Solis was elected as Board of Trustee for District 4 for El Paso Community College (EPCC) in May 2013. She was elected to the 243rd Judicial District Court in November 2018 and then transitioned off the EPCC board in December 2018. In 2022, Judge Solis established the first adult felony mental health court in El Paso County. The mission of the “INSPIRE Treatment Court” is to divert individuals suffering from serious mental health illnesses and co-occurring disorders and guide them to appropriate mental health and social services in hopes that they may lead a more productive and healthier lifestyle and ultimately break away from the revolving door of incarceration.