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Alex
A. Melendez was born in Puerto Rico and made El Paso, Texas his adoptive
residence in 1994. He finished his bachelors degree at the University
of Puerto Rico Magna Cum Laude. He finished his law degree at the Interamerican
University, School of Law in 1989 with honors. While in law school, he
served as Editor and as Associate Director of the law review. He also
earned an honor scholarship and was awarded Best Advocate at the oral
argument competition in 1987. He had one of the top 10 highest scores
in the bar examination. He worked with a medical malpractice law firm
for five years and started working for the El Paso Public Defender’s
Office in 1995 as a trial lawyer. He has been in private practice since
1999, practicing state and federal criminal law, juvenile defense, probate
and contracts. He has also served as an Associate Municipal Court Judge
from 2000 - 2004.
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 John
L. Williams is an El Paso native and an alumnus of the University of Texas
at El Paso where he graduated with highest honors and was named to the
Top Ten Seniors of 1987. In 1990, he graduated from the University of
Texas School of Law where he was Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal
of Criminal Law. He began his law practice in El Paso with the firm of
Kemp, Smith Duncan and Hammond where he worked for over two years. He
then spent two years as an assistant district attorney, where he tried
over 25 felony jury trials, including prosecuting George Rivas, the leader
of the Texas Seven. In conjunction with Rivas’ murderous prison
escape, Mr. Williams was interviewed by Dan Rather for 60 Minutes II and
appeared on Court TV and other programs. He is a former Associate Municipal
Court judge for the City of El Paso. Mr. Williams is an adoptive parent
and is committed to helping others through the adoption process. He also
practices criminal law, juvenile defense, family law and appellate law.
He is currently on the El Paso CASA Board of Directors, is a former member
of the Houchen Community Center Board of Directors, and the 65th Judicial
District Court Drug Court Advisory Committee.
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