Emilio M. Garza

Emilio Garza

Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office August 1, 2012 – January 5, 2015
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office May 30, 1991 – August 1, 2012
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Thomas Reavley
Succeeded by	Vacant
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office April 20, 1988 – May 30, 1991
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	William Sessions
Succeeded by	Orlando Garcia
Personal details
Born	1947 (age 69–70) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Notre Dame University of Texas, Austin

Emilio Miller Garza (born August 1, 1947) is a former judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Garza graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1969, receiving an MA there in 1970. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps, in which he was an officer from 1970 to 1973. Garza earned his Juris Doctor at The University of Texas School of Law in 1976. He was an attorney in private practice with the law firm of Clemens, Spencer, Welmaker & Fink in San Antonio between 1976 and 1986.

On February 2, 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Garza to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, to fill the seat vacated by William S. Sessions. The U.S. Senate confirmed Garza's appointment on April 19, 1988, and Garza received his commission the following day. On April 11, 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Garza to a seat on the Court of Appeals vacated by Thomas Morrow Reavley, and he was confirmed by the Senate on May 24, 1991, receiving his commission on May 30, 1991. Judge Garza assumed senior status August 1, 2012 and retired on January 5, 2015.

Garza was mentioned as a potential nominee to the United States Supreme Court. In fact, he was interviewed in 1991 for the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Thurgood Marshall. That seat ultimately went to Justice Clarence Thomas.