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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 219
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WHEREAS, Jo Anne Bernal is concluding her service as El |
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Paso County attorney at the end of her term on December 31, 2024, |
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drawing to a close an exemplary tenure; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Bernal was appointed El Paso County attorney |
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by the commissioners court in 2009, becoming the first woman in |
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the county's history to hold the position; since that time, she |
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has worked to uphold the mission of her office by providing |
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high-quality legal services in an ethical, professional, and |
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capable manner; she has provided invaluable legal advice to the |
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county regarding significant issues, such as the COVID-19 |
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pandemic and the migrant crisis, and she also expanded protective |
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order services for victims of stalking and bullying; moreover, |
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she created the Nuisance Abatement Team that uses court orders to |
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help tackle repeat criminal activity in certain areas; in |
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addition to handling complex litigation, she oversees more than |
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100 employees and manages an annual budget of $7.5 million; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in El Paso, Ms. Bernal earned her |
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law degree at The University of Texas at Austin and served with |
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the Texas Attorney General's Office for six years prior to |
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joining the El Paso County Attorney's Office in 1993; she is |
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board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal |
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Specialization, and she has been recognized for her many |
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professional accomplishments with the Outstanding Lawyer of the |
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Year Award from the Mexican-American Bar Association and the |
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Outstanding Young Lawyer of El Paso Award from the El Paso Young |
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Lawyers Association; she has also given back to the greater |
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community by sharing her time with numerous worthy |
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organizations, including the Advocacy Center for the Children of |
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El Paso and the Opportunity Center for the Homeless; and |
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WHEREAS, Jo Anne Bernal's skill and dedication have greatly |
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benefited the citizens of El Paso County, and she has earned the |
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admiration and appreciation of her fellow Texans; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commend Jo Anne Bernal for her service as El |
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Paso County attorney and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
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the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Bernal as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Blanco |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 28, 2023. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |