varela

Ester Varela: El Paso’s First Women Justice of the Peace.

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In 1940 Ester Welch Varela was elected the first woman Justice of the Peace in El Paso County, defeating the long-time incumbent, T.H. Apodaca. Varela was reelected in 1942 and retired in 1944. Varela was born in Oklahoma.

Joseph Longo
EPHS Curator
CURATOR@ELPASOHISTORY.COM.

Since 1954 the El Paso County Historical Society has been a driving force in the historic scene of El Paso. EPCHS strives to foster research into the history of the El Paso area; acquire and make available to the public historic materials; publish and encourage historical writing pertaining to the area; and to develop public consciousness of our rich heritage.