--- title: "Patricia O'Connell Alvarez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-o-connell-alvarez-15428" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Patricia O'Connell Alvarez 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), San Antonio, TX, 2019-present - Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio), San Antonio, TX, 2013-2018 - Patricia O’Connell Alvarez was elected Justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals in 2013 and served for over a decade, authoring more than 100 published opinions - Retired from the judiciary, Alvarez now works through Alvarez Dispute Resolutions, PLLC in San Antonio, Texas, as a mediator, arbitrator, and special judge ### Education - B.B.A. (University of Texas at San Antonio, 1982), J.D. (University of Texas at Austin, 1987), LLM (Duke University School of Law, 2023) - Business Administration — The University of Texas at San Antonio — 1982 ### Additional information - Owner, Practitioner, The Alvarez Law Firm, PC, Laredo and San Antonio, TX, 1985-2012 - Date of birth: 1954-10-12 - Certifications: Basic and Advanced Mediation, Arbitration Training, London Arbitration School - She also held admissions to multiple U.S. federal courts and the Texas Bar. - Recognized for her dual perspective—having seen cases from both trial and appellate levels—which allows her to assess litigation risks, evidentiary challenges, and strategic options with precision. - Before joining the appellate bench, she had 26 years as a trial attorney and was Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. - Notable Roles: Former Texas Bar Foundation trustee, College of the State Bar of Texas board member, and active in multiple bar associations - Birth place: México City, México ## 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/15428/patricia-oconnell-alvarez/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15428/patricia-oconnell-alvarez/) - [Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio) current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15428/patricia-oconnell-alvarez/) - [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/15428/patricia-oconnell-alvarez/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-o-connell-alvarez-15428", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patricia-o-connell-alvarez-15428", "name": "Patricia O'Connell Alvarez | KnowJudges", "description": "Patricia O'Connell Alvarez, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio). 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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.