Ellis County assistant district attorney and appellate specialist appointed to 10th Court of Appeals in Waco

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Andrea Westerfeld was inspired as a young girl to become a lawyer after reading a biography of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Like her idol, Westerfeld made a bit of history herself Tuesday after Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her to serve on the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco, replacing the retiring Justice Steve Smith.

The appointment made the 47-year-old Westerfeld the first woman to serve as justice in the 103-year history of the intermediate appellate court.

Westerfeld, chief of the appellate division for the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office, visited the court Wednesday to meet her colleagues, Chief Justice Matt Johnson, Justice Lee Harris, the retiring Smith, and the court staff.

Westerfeld, who has family roots in Crawford, called her historic appointment “awe-inspiring.”

“I am just so honored to have gotten the appointment and am thrilled about this opportunity,” Westerfeld said. “I have really admired Chief Justice Johnson and Justice Harris, and, of course, Justice S...