U. S. Chief District Judge Alia Moses Portrait Ceremony Held in Del Rio
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Foundation, and the San Antonio Federal Bar Association hosted a Portrait Ceremony of U. S. Chief District Judge Alia Moses on Friday, November 6, 2026 at The Gin House in Del Rio, Texas to celebrate and present Chief Judge Moses’ portrait to the community amid a distinguished gathering of guests.
U. S. Chief Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas formally had her Portrait Ceremony in June 2026 at the U. S. District Court in San Antonio, Texas, where her portrait was unveiled and hung in the Hall of Chief Judges. A duplicate copy of the portrait was obtained by the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys to place it in the U. S. District Courthouse in Del Rio in honor and recognition of Chief Judge Moses’ accomplishments and distinguished public service. Chief Judge Moses portrait was painted by artist Tim Byram.
Holly Pavlinski, President of the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys Board of Directors, presided as Master of Ceremony at the event. Pavlinski welcomed the guests and presented the speakers and Chief Judge Moses to the audience. Rob and Terra Wade presented a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
U. S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, Joseph Cordova presented the invocation.
Retired U. S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, Collis White shared his recollection of how he recruited a young attorney, Alia Moses, to join him at the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Del Rio. Judge White noted that 63rd Judicial District Attorney, Tom Lee, recommended Moses to him and he followed up on the recommendation and hired her as an Assistant U. S. Attorney. Judge White stated that from that moment the rest is history on how Moses developed as a young lawyer and went on to become Assistant U. S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, and eventually being appointed by President George W. Bush as a U. S. District Court Judge. Judge White added his young lawyer rose to become the U. S. Chief District Judge for the Western District of Texas, establishing a “Justice Empire’ in the process. He congratulated Chief Judge Moses on her accomplishments and stated he was very proud of her.
Chief Judge Moses addressed the guests and thanked them for their support and attending the Portrait Ceremony. She personally thanked every guest at the ceremony and took the time to take a photograph with each guest.
Chief Judge Moses was born in Eagle Pass, Texas in 1962 and attended public school in the Eagle Pass Independent School District, graduating from Eagle Pass High School. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at Texas Woman’s University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.
She started her legal career as an Assistant County Attorney and Chief of Appellate Section in Travis County. Then she accepted Collis White’s offer to join him as an Assistant U. S. Attorney in Del Rio and later becoming Chief of the Del Rio Division.
She was selected to become a U. S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, and was nominated as a U. S. District Judge by President George W. Bush on July 11, 2002 and confirmed by the U. S. Senate on November 14, 2002. She served as a U. S. District Judge from 2002 to 2022 and named Chief U. S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas in 2022.
Among the distinguished guests at the ceremony were U. S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, U. S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez, U. S. District Judge Robert Pittman, U. S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Cordova, Retired U. S. Magistrate Judge Roberto Garcia, Retired U. S. Magistrate Judge Collis White, U. S. Attorney Justin Simmons, 83rd Judicial District Judge Robert Cadena, Val Verde County Court at Law Judge Sergio Gonzalez, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, Del Rio Municipal Court Judge Kassandra Vanessa Flores, Val Verde County District Attorney Suzanne West, Val Verde County Attorney David Martinez, Colonel Ivan Blackwell, Deputy Wing Commander of 47th Flying Training Wing, Del Rio City Attorney Anna Markowski Smith, Del Rio City Councilwomen Carmen Gutierrez and Elsa Reyes, Deputy Consul of Mexico Rene David Mejia Quinones, Consul of Guatemala Ligia Armas, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Blanca Larson, and many other municipal, state, and federal officials.
Chief Judge Moses was accompanied by her family at the ceremony as well as past and present law clerks and judicial staff members.
Following the presentations at the Portrait Ceremony, guests enjoyed a delicious array of food, desserts, and refreshments.
Music at the event was provided by The Gin House Jazz Band, who played great tunes to liven the atmosphere on a beautiful sunny, blue sky afternoon on the green lawn of The Gin House outdoor patio.
