This film, produced by Acclaim Media Productions and the Cameron County Bar Association, presents a history of the Southern District of Texas, one of the four U.S. Federal District Courts in the state. It also introduces the district judges, past and present, who have served on the court, including commentary by recent judges, Reynaldo Garza, Filemon Vela, and Hilda Tagle. Brownsville serves as the seat of the Brownsville Division of the Southern District of Texas and the film gives brief histories its federal courthouses - historic and current.

In 1947, the Brownsville Historical Association opened Brownsville’s first history museum at Fort Brown. Since then, the mission of the Brownsville Historical Association has been to promote the history and heritage of Brownsville, Texas through educational and outreach programs. The organization also provides programming at its several venues on a year-round basis. These programs include fine arts exhibitions, school collaborations, preservation education, and community pride celebrations.

Cameron County Brownsville

education history Republic of Texas South Texas statehood federal courthouse John C. Watress Sam Houston judicial district judicial system

judge Civil War court law Southern District of Texas Waller T. Burns Joseph C. Hutchison, Jr., federal building Rio Grande Valley John Black Felix Recio

Hilda G. Tagle Filemon B. Vela illegal immigration narcotics trade Reynaldo G. Garza Mexican American History Andrew S. Hanen magistrate judge district judge attorney

lawyer Ricardo Lara public defender Jeff Wilde U.S. marshal Butch Barbosa district clerk Robert Lynch U.S. Probation Office Pretrial Service

TFC