Saying Goodbye: Judge Garcia retires after more than 30 years of service
Spotlight: Judge Richard Garcia
The Honorable Judge Richard Garcia, associate judge for the 225th District Court here in Bexar County, ended his 33-year legal career at the Bexar County Children’s Court. He officially retired on April 30, 2021.
Judge Garcia received his Doctor of Juris from St. Mary’s University in 1979. After practicing law in the public sector for several years, he returned to public service as the Assistant District Attorney for Child Protective Services handling Child Abuse and Neglect cases in July 1988.
In February 1990, The Honorable Judge Richard Garcia was unanimously approved by the Bexar County District Judges and appointed as an Associate Judge, to handle Family law matters. In 2005, Judge Garcia was assigned to serve in the Bexar County Children’s Court. A position he considers both a calling and a privilege as he strived to bring justice to the most innocent of victims – the children.
His impact on the child welfare system will not soon be forgotten. Everyone that has had the privilege to work in his courtroom will miss his dedication, compassion, incredible humor and contagious smile. During his tenure he has sworn in hundreds of CASA Volunteers. His wisdom and words always seemed to inspire Volunteers to best advocate for the children. “His passion and calling shined through every word he spoke. There wasn’t one swearing in that he didn’t almost make me cry.” said Leticia Hernandez, VP of Recruitment and Training.
“Judge Garcia has always had a tremendous amount of respect for CASA, CASA recommendations and our overall mission.” said Dennis Ramsey, tenured CASA supervisor, “Even when our recommendations didn’t align, he was respectful and professional.” To Judge Garcia, every case that went through his court, was treated as if these were his own children, and that is exactly how he referred to them, “his kids”.
"He valued the information that CASA Volunteers were able to bring forth on their CASA court reports and he was always looking to see that his kids were thriving" recalls Allison Martinez, VP of Programs. Judge Garcia was constantly pushing everyone around him to seek the best for his kids. He was constantly asking the tough questions and ensuring that he had the most up to date information on his cases. He truly valued the information and insight that our Volunteers would bring to him through their court reports.
Today we pay tribute to his dedication, commitment, and professionalism. "We can only hope and pray that the next Judge to preside in Children's Court will show the empathy and love for the foster children we serve that was embodied in every decision Judge Garcia made "states Angela White, CASA CEO & President. The impacts he has made during his tenure are countless and his legacy will continue to influence everyone that works in the child welfare system.
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!
Brittany Coppage
