Photo from Northside Independent School District

JUDGE PAUL ANDY MIRELES, also known as Judge Andy Mireles, was born April 3rd, 1950 in Lockhart, Texas. Judge Mireles aspired to join the priesthood at a young age and studied at the Assumption Seminary, the Archdiocese of San Antonio. His plans changed after meeting Margaret Guzman, his wife of twenty-nine years.

Judge Mireles earned doctorate of jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law in May of 1975, graduating second in his class. His main focus in law was family, civil law and juvenile justice. Judge Mireles served as a judge on the 73rd District Court for over 20 years and was notably concerned about the issues and how to improve the future of San Antonio’s youth. Mireles also served as a member of the Bexar County Juvenile Board and as its chairman for twelve years.

Judge Mireles’ countless hours of work with the juvenile population of San Antonio led to the naming of several San Antonio facilities in his honor. The Judge Andy Mireles Juvenile Probation Center serves to “achieve positive change with children and their families by emphasizing individual responsibility and community safety.” Judge Andy Mireles Law Magnet Center at Fox Tech High School and Judge Andy Mireles Elementary School also honor his commitment to the city’s youth. In December 2009, Judge Mireles suffered an untimely death at the age of 59 in San Antonio, Texas, where he spent the majority of his life and career. Judge Mireles was known for his constant advocacy and left a lasting legacy in the community. His work inspired his two sons to work in education and the community just as he once did.

By N. Geremy Landin, St. Mary’s University Law Fellows in Public History (2019)

References:

● About. Andy Mireles Cʜᴀʀɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ Fᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. (October 1, 2018) http://www.andymireles.org/about.html.

● Children’s Court Division & Programs. Bᴇxᴀʀ Cᴏᴜɴᴛʏ Tᴇxᴀꜱ. (October 1, 2018) https://www.bexar.org/1040/Childrens-Court.

● Judge Andy Mireles Obituary. Lᴇɢᴀᴄʏ (October 1, 2018) https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanantonio/obituary.aspx?n=andy-mireles&pid=137471462&fhid=15386.

● Paul Andrew Mireles. Tᴇxᴀꜱ Sᴛᴀᴛᴇ Cᴇᴍᴇᴛᴇʀʏ. (October 1, 2018) https://cemetery.tspb.texas.gov/pub/user_form.asp?pers_id=11471.

● Remembering the Life and Legacy of Judge Andy Mireles. KSAT. (October 1, 2018) https://www.ksat.com/sa-live/sa-live-featured-clip/remembering-the-life-and-legacy-of-judge-andy-mireles.

● Paul Andrew Mireles. Sᴛᴀᴛᴇ Bᴀʀ ᴏꜰ Tᴇxᴀꜱ. (October 1, 2018) https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=217951.