Fernando Rodriguez Jr.

U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Texas

Appears in 1 story

Born: 1969, Harlingen

Education: Yale University, University of Texas School of Law

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

Judge clears way for SpaceX land swap with Texas wildlife refuge

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Denied the conservation groups' injunction, allowing the transfer

A federal judge in South Texas cleared the way Sept. 21 for SpaceX to take title to 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In exchange, the company gives the government 683 acres of private land, expanding Elon Musk's rocket test facility near Starbase.

Updated Sep 21