Young Gunner’s SCOTX Series | Episode 7: A Conversation with Justice Rebecca Aizpuru Huddle

In this episode, we sit down with Justice Rebecca Aizpuru Huddle, a child of the border whose journey to the bench was shaped by her mother’s unwavering support and a deep commitment to making a difference. After overcoming the challenges of law school, she landed a prestigious job at Baker Botts. Despite seeing lawyers on TV mainly portrayed in litigation roles, Justice Huddle decided to carve her own path in transactional law. As she moved to Houston to start a new chapter, she worked to turn the big city into a small community, finding ways to make it feel like home. Reflecting on the sometimes difficult decisions justices face when their views diverge, Justice Huddle shares her experiences and insights on navigating the complexities of law and life.

You can access this episode and our other episodes here: https://tyla.org/resource/young-gunners-podcast/

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Chapters

• 1:20 How did your experience serving as a Spanish teacher before law school shape your path to the law? What lessons or insights from that time have influenced your legal career?
• 3:40 Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize law was the right fit for you?
• 5:42 Can you share what attracted you to litigation early in your career, and when did the idea of becoming a judge start to take shape for you?
• 8:08 After writing over 400 opinions at the First Court of Appeals and later working in private practice, was there a particular experience or turning point that solidified your decision to pursue a seat on the Texas Supreme Court?
• 11:07 Were there any mentors, key experiences, or moments that helped pave the way for your journey to the Texas Supreme Court?
• 14:11 Can you walk us through a typical day in your life on the bench?
• 16:53 Do you find the writing component of your role as a justice to be the most challenging, or are there other aspects of your work that present greater stress or difficulty?
• 19:07 When you’re faced with a particularly tough case, where the law is complex and the stakes are high, how do you approach making decisions?
• 23:11 When you and your colleagues have differing opinions or perspectives on a case, how do you work through those differences to reach a consensus?
• 28:50 Is there anything you wish you had known sooner before stepping into your role as a justice?
• 30:42 What advice or words of wisdom would you offer to young attorneys who are considering a career in public service or the judiciary?