Judge Becky Palomo urges more local students to consider legal careers at Color of Justice program

Judge Becky Palomo welcomed more than 130 high school students to the ninth annual Color of Justice program, saying the event gives young people firsthand exposure to courts and careers in law.

Palomo, introduced in the transcript as a judge who implemented the program in Webb County, told students they would observe proceedings at state, county and federal courthouses and see judges and attorneys in action. "They were very inquisitive and had a lot of questions afterwards," she said of the students' reaction to a criminal docket the group observed.

Palomo framed the program as a response to demographic gaps on the bench. She said that when she learned that out of about 3,500 judges in Texas "less than half" were female and "less than 500 were Hispanic," she returned to Webb County and started the program to encourage local students to pursue law. "If I can do it, so can you," she told the students.

Palomo also recounted her own path into the law: she said she applied to college, earned a degree, went to law school, became a young attorney at 26 and later a judge, and she urged students that background or finances need not disqualify them from considering the legal profession.

She invited interested students to seek more information or community service opportunities, saying, "Just Google judge Becky Palomo and reach out to me." The program, Palomo said, aims to prepare the next generation of legal professionals by letting students observe dockets and learn about constitutional rights and courtroom roles.

The Color of Justice program, now in its ninth year at this site according to the transcript, brought students from local schools including Bruny, Texas, and Zapata, Texas. Palomo said the event is intended to inspire students from all parts of the community to consider legal careers.