Judge Carmen Rivera-Worley

Merits and Services

 

 

Education

Jurisprudence Doctorate, University of Texas School of Law, 1982
Master’s Degree, Texas Tech University, 1978
Bachelor’s Degree, Texas A & I University, 1977 (now Texas A & M University, Kingsville)

Legal Experience

Judge, 16th Judicial District Court of Denton County, Texas, June 18, 2003 to present
Denton County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, October, 1992 to June 17, 2003
Assistant Criminal District Attorney/Chief of Civil Division Val Verde County Attorney, 1987-1992
Val Verde County Attorney’s Office, 1985-1987
Assistant County AttorneyPrivate practice of law, 1984-1988

Professional Associations

U. S. District Court, Southern District
Denton County Bar Association
Texas State Bar Association
Construction Law Section (past) Government Lawyer Section (past) Labor and Employment Section (past) Hispanic National Bar Association
National Association of Women Judges
Texas District Judge’s Association
Texas District and County Attorney’s Association
Board of Directors (past) Long Range Planning Committee, PublicationsCivil Committee, (past chair) Editorial Board Member, (past) Legislative Committee Member, (past) Authored papers and speakerGovernor Richard’s Prosecution Advisory Committee on the
Punishment Standards Commission, (past)Texas Association of Counties, V.G. Institute and Texas Purchasing Association Authoring papers and speaking at conferences on local government and purchasing, statewide and regional. Denton County Bail Bond Board
Denton County Juvenile Board
Texas Association of Defense Counsel - 2008 Trial Academy Faculty Member

Civic Organizations and Charities

Denton County Republican Men’s Club
Denton County Republican Women’s Club
Denton County Pachyderm Association
Denton County Republican Party Executive Committee, Precinct 125 Chairman, (past)
Denton Independent School District, Bond Progress Committee, (past)
Denton Independent School District, Communities in Schools Mentor Program, (past)
Denton Christian Preschool Board of Directors and Nominations Committee, (past)
Trinity United Methodist Church
Board of Trustees, Youth Ministries Committee Chair, Council on Ministries, (past)Ann’s Haven Hospice, Minority Access Committee, (past)
LULAC, Denton Chapter #4366
UNT League for Professional Women
Denton ISD – Communities in Schools Mentor Program (past)
The Sarah E. Worley Educational Foundation Trust, Trustee

Awards

1998 - recognized as a finalist of the “John Scott County Employee of the Year” Award
1999 - “Gerald Summerford Civil Practitioner of the Year” Award by theTexas District and County Attorney’s Association in recognition of her distinguished service to the association and her profession.
2006 Denton County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Judge of the Year.
2007 Denton County CASA Judge of the Year.

 

Personal Data

Married to Lee Worley, Homeland Security Officer (U.S. Customs Inspector)
Children:  Sarah, 17 (deceased 4/2/98) and Ernest, 24

Re-elect Judge Carmen Rivera-Worley
Republican Candidate for Judge, District 16

Navigation

Judicial Experience

  • Elected Judge of the 16th Judicial District Court of Denton County, Nov 2nd, 2004
  • Appointed Judge of the16th Judicial District Court of Denton County, June 4th, 2003

As Judge of the 16th Judicial Court, Carmen Rivera-Worley has presided over and disposed of:

  • 2558 Criminal Cases
  • 7265 Civil Cases*

including jury trials:

  • 64 Criminal Cases
  • 24 Civil Cases*

*Civil Cases include family law, Child Protective Services cases, and general litigation.

Practice and Public Service

Carmen Rivera-Worley's qualifications as a judge also stem from her legal experience both as a defense attorney and prosecutor. This includes criminal and civil cases involving family law, government law, and general litigation.

  • Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office, October 1992 to June 2003
  • Val Verde County Attorney, 1987 to 1992
  • Val Verde County Attorney's Office, Assistant County Attorney, 1985 to 1987
  • Private Practice, 1984 to 1988

History of Service

Judge Carmen Rivera-Worley has offered her services to a wide circle of professional, educational, charitable and civic organizations.

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Judges
  • Denton County Bar Association
  • Texas State Bar Association
  • Texas District Judge's Association
  • Texas District and County Attorney's Association
  • Governor Richards' Prosecution Advisory Committee
  • Texas Association of Counties
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel

My Heritage

Raised in the South Texas border town of Del Rio as one of four daughters, I learned from supportive parents that hard work, faith, and perseverance are the key ingredients to making a better way of life.

Read more on how this gift of my heritage affects the world today and spreads through our community.

My Family

Carmen Rivera-Worley and Family

Carmen with husband, Lee, and son, Ernest

Sarah Worley

Daughter, Sarah Worley
1980 - 1998

read more about my family...

 

Associations
  • U. S. District Court, Southern District
  • Denton County Bar Association
  • Texas State Bar Association
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Judges
  • Texas District Judge’s Association
  • Texas District and County Attorney’s Association
  • Governor Richards' Prosecution Advisory Committee
  • Read more about Professional Associations, Organizations, and Charities