Colleagues and challengers of a beloved El Paso magistrate judge were left in shock after her untimely passing days away from the decisive election that would have called her the winner of a full-time judgeship she was running for.
47-year-old Lillian Blancas died of coronavirus Monday after losing a lengthy battle against the illness.
“We in the legal community knew she was doing well for a while,” Private defense attorney Enrique Holguin, who is also one of Blancas’ challengers, said.
“I am just in shock. She was my friend. She wasn’t my political opponent,” he added.
Blancas owned a law firm and was a part-time criminal law judge. She finished first in the initial election last month but a runoff was held because she and the other candidates failed to gain 50 percent of votes.
“My heart breaks for all those who loved her,” Assistant District Attorney Amanda Enriquez said.
