---
title: "Lionel Aron Peña Jr. | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lionel-aron-pena-jr-tx-13th-court-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Lionel Aron Peña Jr.

Texas 13th Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas 13th Court of Appeals
- State: Texas
- Role: Court of Appeals Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

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

## 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

### 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.txcourts.gov/13thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-lionel-aron-pe%C3%B1a-jr/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/13thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-lionel-aron-pe%C3%B1a-jr/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/13thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-lionel-aron-pe%C3%B1a-jr/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Republican justice on the Texas 13th Court of Appeals (Place 3), elected in 2022 and assuming office on January 1, 2023
- Litigation Director, Texas General Land Office (2014–2023)
- Assistant General Counsel, Texas Department of Agriculture (2013–2014)
- Peña serves as Place 3 Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals, covering the Corpus Christi and Edinburg judicial district
- Official site: Texas Judicial Branch – Justice Lionel Aron Peña Jr

### Education

- B.A. in Government, University of Texas at Austin (1984) J.D., Texas Southern University School of Law (1987) Licensed to practice law in Texas in 1988

### Additional information

- His term runs until the end of 2028.
- Elected in the November 8, 2022 general election, defeating incumbent Leticia Hinojosa.
- He is married to Monica Solis Peña (divorced 2015) and has five children.
- Public Service: Texas House of Representatives (District 40, 2003–2013) — chaired Committees on Criminal Jurisprudence, Technology, and Emergency Preparedness.
- Legal Career: Over 35 years as a litigator, specializing in labor and employment law, with board certification in that field (1995–2010).
- Born June 8, 1959 in Austin, Texas, Peña is the eldest of six siblings, son of Lionel Aron Peña Sr. and Sylvia Alamia Peña.
- Major in the Texas State Guard, Staff Judge Advocate at Austin command headquarters.
- Named a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and served on the State Bar of Texas’ Labor and Employment section board.



## 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.