New 10th Court Justice Sworn In At Baylor Law School Ceremony

by Alan Hunt

Felipe Reyna, a local lawyer, former McLennan County District Attorney and a 1972 Baylor law graduate, was sworn in as a new Associate Justice of the 10th Court of Appeals, Waco, during an investiture ceremony Jan. 5 at Baylor Law School.
Administering the oath of office to Justice Reyna was Judge Walter S. Smith, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. The ceremony, attended by a capacity crowd, was held in the Jim Kronzer Appellate Advocacy Classroom and Courtroom at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center.
Justice Reyna was appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to the former Associate Justice slot on the bench held by Justice Thomas W. Gray, a 1985 Baylor Law School graduate, who was sworn in as Chief Justice of the court during a ceremony last month in the Kronzer Courtroom. The other member of the three-member court is Justice Bill Vance, who has served on the bench since 1991.
Justice Vance introduced members of the Reyna family during Monday's ceremony and Chief Justice Gray delivered a eulogy of German Reyna, Justice Reyna's father. Other program participants included Kenneth W. Anderson Jr., director of governmental appointments, Office of Gov. Rick Perry; Leah W. Jackson, associate dean of the Law School; the Rev. Danny J. Niedecken, pastor of Lorena United Methodist Church, who gave the invocation; Pastor Ramiro Pena of Christ the King Baptist Church, who gave the benediction; Glenn Beals, who sang the National Anthem; and Matt Johnson, a partner in the law firm of Reyna & Reyna P.C., who led the pledge of allegiance.
A reception followed in the foyer of the Kronzer Appellate Courtroom.