Courses
- Basics of Municipal Law
- Ethics and Public Officials
Research Interests
- Municipal Law
Biography
Garza teaches “Ethics and Public Officials” and “Basics of Municipal Law” courses in the program. He is a member of the Davidson & Troilo law firm, where among other things, he chairs the firm’s Practice Management Committee and Public Law Section. Educated at Trinity University (B.A. 1983) and Catholic University Law School in Washington, D.C., (J.D. 1986) he is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas and has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1987.
He is on the Board of Directors of the Texas City Attorney’s Association, a member of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and has taught over fifteen Continuing Legal Education Courses in the areas of municipal law, ethics as well as employment law. Mr. Garza’s legal career includes working as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas and the City Attorney’s Office in San Antonio, Texas. In April 1997, Mr. Garza was named City Attorney to the City of San Antonio, where he managed the entire City’s Legal Department, and advised the City Manager, City Council, staff members and other City officials concerning the legal duties relevant to their office. Mr. Garza is currently the City Attorney for the cities of Balcones Heights, Bulverde, Sabinal, Terrell Hills, Karnes City, Hondo, Helotes and Poteet as well as providing legal services to the cities of San Antonio, New Braunfels, Pearsall, Cotulla, Tyler, Alamo Heights, Seguin and Laredo. He is also General Counsel for VIA Metropolitan Transit, Brooks Development Authority and Cibolo Canyons Special Improvement District, City of San Antonio Police and Fire Civil Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and New Braunfels Fire Civil Service Commission. A native San Antonian, Professor Garza and his wife Alma have four children.