University of Houston Law Center alumnus Judge Juan F. Vasquez '77
Jan 25, 2021 – University of Houston Law Center alumnus and adjunct professor Juan F. Vasquez vividly conveys his trials of discrimination, poverty and manual labor in a new biography published by the American Bar Association scheduled for release in January.
“From the Texas Cotton Fields to the United States Tax Court: The Life Journey of Juan F. Vasquez” acknowledges the adversity and challenges faced on Vasquez’s trek to becoming the first Hispanic judge on the U.S. Tax Court.
Written by his wife, Mary Theresa Vasquez, and Anthony Head, it spans his childhood in San Antonio, where he was born to a working-class family and raised by his grandparents, to the challenges faced as he pursued a career in law, emphasizing the importance of family, community and opportunity.
“Having my biography published makes me humble and reflect my accomplishments,” Vasquez stated. “It encourages me to do more outreach to all students to inspire them that they too can achieve the American dream through determination, hard work and perseverance.
“Being part of this class has given me the opportunity to give back to the University. I have hired some of my students as law clerks, interns and externs for my chambers at the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C.”
He has taught Tax Controversy and Litigation at the Law Center in collaboration with his son, Juan Vasquez, Jr., a 2001 graduate of the Law Center and a partner at Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston office, since 2008.
