By Edward A. Sandoval
Administrative First Assistant District Attorney in Cameron County
It is Monday morning in Brownsville. I am running late, struggling with my mask, and fielding emails and phone calls from agencies and defense attorneys. I make it to my desk, get my computer going, and who decides to make an appearance? None other than El Gato Negro himself, the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office resident purr-alegal, Justice the Cat.
You see, I am his early morning snack dealer, and he stops by on the regular to make sure he gets his kibble. He is rather demanding about timely snack time; after all, he does reside in the office full time—he keeps his litter box in the executive restroom, has taken to sleeping on our elected DA’s sofa, and spends his late afternoons either walking around giving the staff various snide looks (“Why are you here? I have naps to take”) or sitting at the window watching pigeons.
Besides being the king of cat swagger (he is being raised by dozens of attorneys and staff), his purrs are a welcome break to the weight of being prosecutors. It is common for folks fresh from processing a particularly heinous case to seek him out for a scratch or a pet. On one occasion, a paralegal walked into my office asking, “Where is the cat? I just need a cuddle.” Despite being a cat, he embraces his duties. He basks in the love and dutifully makes biscuits on any staff member in need of a smile. In addition, the presence of our purr-alegal has helped with the added stress of the pandemic. It is surprising how far a cuddle with a cat can go when we have lived in a socially-distanced society for two years.
Justice fancies himself a fashion afficionado. He has a collar for every occasion, and he enjoys wearing bow ties, unless it is his red tie day to match our District Attorney, Luis V. Saenz. He embraces the holiday spirit by dressing up for the season, including being our office’s most recent Santa Claus and revealing that he is the real Batcat for Halloween.
Where the cat came from
It seems that Justice has won the lost-kitty lottery. Assistant DA Stephanie Franke was on her way back from lunch on a hot summer day when she noticed someone throw a kitten out of a car window. She stopped and picked up the injured black fuzzball, who was about four weeks old. She brought him back to the office and gave him a little first aid to check him out. He was very emaciated and we did not think he was going to make it.
Truth be told, it was a very rough first few days, but he pulled through. Everyone in the office lent a hand to help him adjust and recover from his injuries. A number of folks even pooled money to have him seen and treated by a veterinarian. Slowly but surely, Justice started putting on weight, regrowing fur, and developing a personality. Because of the love and support we provided him and the interest we all had in his well-being, Mr. Saenz decided that he would be staying with our office.
Since then, Justice has made himself at home. During the week, you can find him just about anywhere in the office, and on weekends he’ll go home with various staffers for “field trips.” He regularly forces his way into meetings, often looking diligently engaged, and lays in the room while we’re staffing cases. But Justice is not all purrs and cuddles, nor is he merely an office cat. He contributes to our mission. He has a social media presence that uses lighthearted messages to raise awareness about important community and criminal justice issues. He frequently leaves notes on Facebook reminding our neighbors to be safe during the holidays, not drink and drive, and of course be kind to four-legged friends. His local celebrity has taken on a life of its own, and it is not uncommon for Mr. Saenz to be approached in public by strangers asking about the well-being of Justice, El Gato Negro.
Find him on Instagram @i_amjusticeccdacat.