Patricia O'Connell Alvarez at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Court
- Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio)
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- January 1, 2019–present
Patricia O'Connell Alvarez
Justice · Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio)
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Owner, Practitioner, The Alvarez Law Firm, PC, Laredo and San Antonio, TX, 1985-2012
Judicial service
- Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio), San Antonio, TX, 2013-2018
- Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio), San Antonio, TX, 2019-present
Education
- The University of Texas at San Antonio · Business Administration, 1982
- The University of Texas at Austin · JD, 1987
- Duke University · LLM, 2023
Personal record
Born October 12, 1954 · México City, México
Courtroom rules and guidance
Oral Argument Purpose
Use oral argument to emphasize and clarify the briefs, not merely read prepared text; assume the panel has read the briefs, be ready for questions, and stay within the record.
Oral argument should emphasize and clarify the written arguments in the briefs. Counsel should not merely read from prepared text.Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Oral Argument Time
The court sets argument time. Finish within the allotment unless the court permits continuation; the appellant must be allowed to conclude.
Counsel must complete argument in the time allotted and may continue after the expiration of the allotted time only with permission of the court.Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Number Of Arguing Counsel
Generally one lawyer should argue for each side. Without leave, no more than two may argue per side, and only one may present rebuttal.
Generally, only one counsel should argue for each side. Except on leave of court, no more than two counsel on each side may argue. Only one counsel may argue in rebuttal.Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Oral Argument Request
Request oral argument on the front cover of the brief. If argument is set, all parties that filed briefs may participate even if they did not request it.
A party desiring oral argument must note that request on the front cover of the party’s brief.Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Oral Argument Notice
The clerk's notice states whether argument is allowed, the date, allotted time, location or electronic-joining instructions, exhibit instructions, and panel members.
The clerk must send to the parties—at least 21 days before the date the case is set for argument or submission without argument—a notice telling the parties:Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Appellate Electronic Filing
In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so.
Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court.Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗
Sources
Texas Court of Appeals, 4th District (San Antonio) current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15428/patricia-oconnell-alvarez/Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 30, 2026
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf