Early life and education
Gregorio G. Sánchez was born in Brownsville, Texas. His parents, Gregorio and Maria Sánchez, were Mexican immigrants. Sánchez attended local public schools and graduated from Brownsville High School in 1945. He then served in the United States Navy during World War II.
After the war, Sánchez attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1952. While at the University of Texas, Sánchez was a member of the Texas Law Review and the Order of the Coif.
Legal career
After graduating from law school, Sánchez returned to Brownsville and entered into private practice. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas from 1955 to 1957.
In 1967, Sánchez was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve as a United States district judge for the Southern District of Texas. He was the first Hispanic to be appointed to the federal bench in Texas. Sánchez served as a district judge for 29 years, until he took senior status in 1996.
Notable cases
During his time on the federal bench, Sánchez presided over a number of notable cases. In 1970, he ruled that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) had standing to sue the Texas Education Agency over its discriminatory practices against Mexican American students. In 1975, Sánchez ordered the desegregation of the Brownsville Independent School District.
Sánchez also presided over a number of criminal cases. In 1980, he sentenced Carlos Lehder Rivas, a leader of the Medellín Cartel, to life in prison. In 1984, Sánchez sentenced Juan García Abrego, the leader of the Gulf Cartel, to 11 life sentences.
Legacy
Sánchez was a pioneer for Hispanic lawyers and judges. He was a role model for many young Hispanics who aspired to careers in the law. Sánchez was also a strong advocate for social justice. He believed that all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity, should be treated equally under the law.
Sánchez died in Houston, Texas, on October 23, 1996. He was 68 years old.
Awards and honors
Sánchez received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 1971, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. In 1982, he was awarded the American Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Award. In 1995, he was awarded the Hispanic National Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sánchez's legacy continues to live on. He is remembered as a brilliant jurist, a dedicated public servant, and a champion for justice.