Skip to main content

TribBlog: The Karate Kid

Supreme Court Justice David Medina can throw a punch — and take one too.

Lead image for this article

David Medina's sparring skills apparently aren't limited to a back-and-forth from the bench. The Texas Supreme Court Justice showed he's capable of throwing a punch — and taking one too — in a martial arts bout with Cleve Doty, a briefing attorney who works for Medina's colleague, Justice Don Willett

At an internal charity auction the court held during the holiday season last year, the pair sold tickets to the Kajukenbo — a martial art that mixes boxing and various schools of karate including Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo and Kung Fu — match, which happened at the end of April. Doty said staff members urged the two of them to hold a competition when they learned that they practice together with Medina's old coach at Texas State University, where the judge was a two-time state champion on the karate team. 

Medina joined the court in 2004 and is a former district judge and general counsel to Gov. Rick Perry. Check out his moves below — he's the one in black. (H/t to SCOTXblog)

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Yes, I'll donate today

Explore related story topics

Courts Criminal justice Texas Supreme Court