---
title: "Federico Hinojosa | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# Federico Hinojosa

Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio) · Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio)
- State: Texas
- Role: Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio), ?-present
- He also practiced law in private capacity, including as a partner at Lewis, Pettitt & Hinojosa.

### Education

- University of Houston in — J.D. (1977)
- Pan American University in — B.A. (1969)

### Additional information

- as of July 1, 2026, he was listed as Judge, Retired with the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Judiciary Section, earning $170,375 annually.
- Public payroll data from the Texas Comptroller’s site confirms his “Judge, Retired” status from 2020 onward.
- He is married to Magdalena Garza (married October 30, 1992) and has one child, Cynthia.
- U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas) — appointed 1980
- U.S. Court of Appeals (5th Circuit) — 1980
- U.S. Supreme Court — 1980
- Hinojosa was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1977 and later to the U.S. Bar.
- He also held the role of a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 to 1974.
- Federico Gustavo Hinojosa was born April 16, 1947 in Edinburg, Texas.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### oral argument purpose

Scope: courtwide

Use oral argument to emphasize and clarify the briefs, not merely read prepared text; assume the panel has read the briefs, be ready for questions, and stay within the record.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument should emphasize and clarify the written arguments in the briefs. Counsel should not merely read from prepared text.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### oral argument time

Scope: courtwide

The court sets argument time. Finish within the allotment unless the court permits continuation; the appellant must be allowed to conclude.

Evidence excerpt: Counsel must complete argument in the time allotted and may continue after the expiration of the allotted time only with permission of the court.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### number of arguing counsel

Scope: courtwide

Generally one lawyer should argue for each side. Without leave, no more than two may argue per side, and only one may present rebuttal.

Evidence excerpt: Generally, only one counsel should argue for each side. Except on leave of court, no more than two counsel on each side may argue. Only one counsel may argue in rebuttal.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### oral argument request

Scope: courtwide

Request oral argument on the front cover of the brief. If argument is set, all parties that filed briefs may participate even if they did not request it.

Evidence excerpt: A party desiring oral argument must note that request on the front cover of the party’s brief.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### oral argument notice

Scope: courtwide

The clerk's notice states whether argument is allowed, the date, allotted time, location or electronic-joining instructions, exhibit instructions, and panel members.

Evidence excerpt: The clerk must send to the parties—at least 21 days before the date the case is set for argument or submission without argument—a notice telling the parties:

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### appellate electronic filing

Scope: statewide

In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so.

Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15836/federico-hinojosa/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15836/federico-hinojosa/)
- [Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio) current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15836/federico-hinojosa/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15836/federico-hinojosa/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836",
      "name": "Federico Hinojosa | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Federico Hinojosa, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio). Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-02",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836#judge",
      "name": "Federico Hinojosa",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836",
      "jobTitle": "Justice",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio)"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15836/federico-hinojosa/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Texas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Federico Hinojosa",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-hinojosa-15836"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```


## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e966a5411b2587c600cf3508) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.
