Former federal judge Jorge Solis, who got his start in Abilene, dies at 70
Jorge Solis, whose legal career led him to become chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, got his start in Abilene in a variety of prominent roles.
Solis, who died Friday at 70, will be honored at McMurry University's Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday during homecoming.
Born May 1,1951, in San Ygnacio, he and his family moved to Abilene on Dec. 26, 1955.
"Starting elementary school unable to speak English to ultimately mastering language through writing and speech, he focused on academic success from an early age," a release from McMurry stated.
Solis graduated from Abilene High School in 1969, then went to then-McMurry College, where he earned a degree in history and political science in 1973.
According to his obituary, his dream was to attend the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, and he was "so excited" when he was accepted.
He graduated with his Juris Doctor in 1976.
Career begins
After law school, he was an assistant criminal district attorney for the Taylor County District Attorney's office from 1976-81.
After a short time in private practice, he was elected in 1982 as the first Hispanic district attorney for Taylor County, serving in that position from 1983-87.
He served as a special prosecutor for the Narcotics Task Force in 1988.
Solis ran for Taylor County judge of the 350th District Court and won, serving from 1989-91.
In June 1991, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Robert W. Porter.
He served as a federal judge for 25 years, retiring as chief judge May 1, 2016.
In 2018, he joined the law firm of Kattan Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he was employed at the time of his death. The Chicago-based firm has a Dallas office.
James Eidson, 42nd District Court judge, said in McMurry's award statement that Solis was the most logical thinker and analyst out of anyone he knew, characteristics that served the Judge well in crafting logically and legally sound opinions.
Solis was well-qualified and deserved of every position he earned, Eidson said.
Honors due
On Friday, Solis will be given McMurry's 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Award at dinner honoring alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession, society, and McMurry itself.
A member of McMurry's board of trustees since 2020, Solis provided "wise counsel and contributed to the advancement of McMurry’s mission of positively impacting the lives and attitudes of incoming students," a statement from the school says.
“Judge Solis’ commitment to his country through his career personifies service above self and embodies the McMurry core value of servant leadership,” said Sandra S. Harper, the McMurry's president. “We are saddened to have lost this inspirational leader. We are honored that he chose to give back to McMurry, serving as a trustee to help advance the mission of his alma mater.”
Steve Sundby, McMurry's board chairman, “McMurry is proud to recognize Judge Solis as a distinguished alumnus of the University,” said
“My fellow trustees and I are honored to have worked with him on the board," he said. "We all share a common vision of forwarding McMurry’s academic reputation, and we recognize the importance of advancing visibility as a Hispanic-serving institution.”
On the case
The website of Kattan Muchin Rosenman states Solis worked with the firm's litigation practice, focusing on trademark, oil and gas and securities litigation and arbitration.
During his judicial tenure, Solis presided over "hundreds of trials involving patent, trade secret, trademark, oil and gas, antitrust and securities litigation," the site says.
A biography for him on FedArb, an alternative dispute resolution firm, notes that in 2008, he presided over the Holy Land financial terrorism case.
According to the site, the case, which lasted more than six weeks, "involved the United States Government prosecuting what at the time was the largest Muslim charity in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation."
The government alleged that the Holy Land Foundation and its principals provided material aid and support to groups identified as terrorist organizations.
The case was the first major effort by the government to attack the financial arms of terrorist groups by freezing and seizing their assets and by criminal prosecution for providing material aid to terrorist organizations, the site says.
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