Carlos E . Mendoza
United States District Judge , Middle District of Florida
Photo by Steve Branyon .
I consider it the privilege of a lifetime that the WVU College of Law saw fit to admit me as a member of the class of 1997 . I will always be thankful for that .”
BY KEVIN DUVALL . “ If you can dream — and not make dreams your master ; if you can think — and not make thoughts your aim ; if you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same . . . .”
Carlos Mendoza , U . S . district judge for the Middle District of Florida , calls these words by Rudyard Kipling his recipe for life . From his time as a combat-decorated Marine to his appointment as a federal district judge , Mendoza has embodied Kipling ’ s sense of stoicism and control of his destiny .
Mendoza was nominated to his position as a district judge by President Barack Obama in February 2014 after being endorsed by Senators Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) and Bill Nelson ( D-FL ). In June 2014 , he was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 94-0 .
Mendoza ’ s work as a judge is the latest in a long history of public service . He enlisted in the U . S . Marine Corps in 1989 after graduating from high school and served for two years in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield . Mendoza ’ s time in combat had a profound effect on his life .
“ I came to terms with my own mortality at the age of 19 ,” says Mendoza . “ Very little rattles me , and since my return from combat in 1991 , I feel as if I have been playing the game of life with house money . Every day is a gift , and life is precious . I think it makes me a better judge and a better person .”
After returning to the U . S . in 1991 , Mendoza stayed with the Marine Corps Reserve as a corporal while attending the College of Central Florida where he earned an associate ’ s degree . Mendoza attended West Virginia University ( WVU ) for his final
two years of college , earning his bachelor ’ s degree in political science in 1993 . He remained a member of the Marine Corps Reserve until 1995 .
Mendoza received his Juris Doctor from the WVU College of Law in 1997 . During law school , he was a member of the National Trial Advocacy Team and the Men ’ s Law Caucus . Upon graduating , he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers . Mendoza felt tremendous passion for the law and for his fellow lawyers .
“ The most important experience I gained from law school was the confidence that came from feeling that I belonged and that there was something positive I could contribute to the time-honored profession of the practice of law ,” he says . “ Also , the friendships you develop in law school are priceless . I remain in contact with many of
Mendoza mobilizing for the Gulf War in 1990 . Photo by Amparo Mendoza . my classmates , and we never grow tired of talking about all of the great times we had while working toward graduation .”
Mendoza also feels a special connection to West Virginia because his time in Morgantown marked a major turning point in his career .
“ I consider it the privilege of a lifetime that the WVU College of Law saw fit to admit me as a member of the class of 1997 . I will always be thankful for that ,” he says . “ West Virginia is where I got my chance . My wife grew up there , and I consider it one of the most important building blocks in my professional life .”
After law school , Mendoza utilized his military and legal experience to become a judge advocate in the Judge Advocate General ’ s ( JAG ) Corps of the U . S . Navy . Mendoza was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in the JAG Corps until 2005 . He recalls his naval experience as playing an important role in his development as a person .
“ While the Marine Corps taught me to fear absolutely nothing , the Navy taught me to be both an officer and a gentleman . Both experiences have proven to be quite valuable ,” he says . “ The JAG Corps was an opportunity to learn how to be part of a legal team and apply those teambuilding skills to provide a very pure form of legal representation for families sacrificing everything to serve our nation .”
Over the course of his 14-year military career , Mendoza received many awards , including the Department of Justice Seal in recognition of exemplary service , four Navy / Marine Corps Commendation Medals , a Letter of Commendation , Junior Officer
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