While the nation’s attention was focused on the presidential election, a significant shift took place in the Fourth Court of Appeals, which oversees Bexar County.

SAN ANTONIO – A former district judge in Bexar County is returning to the bench. Greg Abbott has appointed Melisa Skinner of San Antonio as judge of the 437th Judicial District Court in Bexar County. She is currently an assistant district attorney for the 38th Judicial District working on US/Mexico smuggling and human trafficking cases as part of the Texas Anti-Gang Task Force. Skinner has previously served as judge of the 144th ad 290th judicial district courts in Bexar County. She also has worked as an assistant criminal district attorney for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

Greg Abbott on Monday announced the appointment of 437th District Court Judge Lori Valenzuela to the 4th Court of Appeals. The appointment came after Chief Justice Sandee Bryan-Marion retired in December and Justice Rebecca Martinez was elected in November to the post, which created a vacancy in the court. Valenzuela said the appointment will be a new role since she is accustomed to dealing with attorneys and their clients directly from the bench. The appeals court, located in the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center at the Bexar County Courthouse, serves 32 South Texas counties. RELATED: Bexar County district attorney names veteran prosecutor to head new civil rights division