WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today released the following statements after President Trump announced his intention to nominate David Morales to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Corpus Christi:
“David Morales will make an outstanding federal judge,” Sen. Cruz said. “Having worked side-by-side with David in the Texas Attorney General’s Office defending the constitutional rights of Texans, I know firsthand that he will be a principled, passionate defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, which is why I was proud to join Senator Cornyn in recommending that the President nominate David to this position. He should be swiftly confirmed.”
“I applaud the President for nominating such an experienced attorney to serve the people of south Texas,” said Sen. Cornyn. “David has spent his career mastering complex legal issues in both public service and private practice, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure his swift confirmation.”
If confirmed, David S. Morales of Texas will serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. David Morales currently is a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, where his practice focuses on complex litigation, administrative law, as well as public and higher education law. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Morales served as Deputy General Counsel to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, and as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. As General Counsel to the Governor, Mr. Morales advised the Governor on all civil and criminal issues pending before the Office of the Governor, under both state and federal law. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Morales joined the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, where he served for over seventeen years, ultimately rising to the rank of Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation and Deputy First Assistant Attorney General. As Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation, Mr. Morales supervised all trial and most appellate matters for the State of Texas, managing over 300 civil litigation attorneys and over 15,000 litigation matters. From 2012-2014, Mr. Morales served as an Ex Officio Member of the Texas Access to Justice Commission. Mr. Morales earned his B.B.A. from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas.