--- title: "Nelda V. Rodriguez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nelda-v-rodriguez-8376" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Nelda V. Rodriguez Court of Appeals of Texas · Judge ## Profile - Court: Court of Appeals of Texas - State: Texas - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Court of Appeals of Texas, 1995-present - Retired justice of the Texas Court of Appeals, 13th District, serving from 1995 until the end of her term in 2018 - Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice (2000) and Thomas v - Early career: Interned with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office during law school ### Education - Texas A & M University-Kingsville — B.A. - Texas Southern University — J.D. - Thurgood Marshall School of Law — J.D. - Undergraduate: Texas A&M University–Kingsville (previously Texas A&I University) - Law degree: Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University ### Additional information - Retirement: Did not seek re‐election in 2018 - No longer on the bench; her tenure ended in 2018. - Elected: 1994 for a term beginning in 1995; re‐elected in 2012 for a term ending December 31, 2018 - Rodriguez authored 510 published opinions for the Court of Appeals of Texas between 1995 and 2012, plus 5 dissents and 2 concurrences. - State, 94 S.W.3d 124 (2003), cited over 314 times. - Knight (2001). - 1995: Joined the Court of Appeals of Texas - 1992: held the role of a Title IV‐D Court Master - 1990: Appointed to the Municipal Court of Corpus Christi - 1981: Founded law firm Rodriguez and Rodriguez with her husband - Other notable cases include Jackson v. - Selection method: Partisan election, as is the case for Texas intermediate appellate court justices - She remains recognized in legal databases for her extensive appellate jurisprudence in Texas. - Her most‐cited decision was Adi v. ## 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 39 - Oral Argument](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 39 - Oral Argument](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 39 - Oral Argument](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 39 - Oral Argument](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 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8376/nelda-v-rodriguez/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8376/nelda-v-rodriguez/) - [Court of Appeals of Texas current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8376/nelda-v-rodriguez/) - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8376/nelda-v-rodriguez/) - [Nelda Rodriguez - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nelda_Rodriguez) - [Nelda V. Rodriguez (Court of Appeals of Texas) – CourtListener.com](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8376/nelda-v-rodriguez) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nelda-v-rodriguez-8376", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nelda-v-rodriguez-8376", "name": "Nelda V. Rodriguez | KnowJudges", "description": "Nelda V. Rodriguez, Court of Appeals of Texas. 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/nelda-v-rodriguez-8376#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nelda-v-rodriguez-8376#judge", "name": "Nelda V. 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