The Honorable Juan F. Vasquez
2005 Distinguished Tax Law Visitor
The Honorable Juan F. Vasquez, United States Tax Court, was the 2005 Distinguished Tax Law Visitor at Washburn University School of Law. He presented his perspectives from the bench to tax practitioners at a special lunch meeting. With more than ten years of experience as a judge on the Tax Court and almost thirty years in the tax profession, Judge Vasquez provided insight and perspective on numerous issues. He discussed his experiences while serving on the bench and the rules and culture that govern practice before the Tax Court.
Juan Vasquez was nominated as a Judge to the United States Tax Court by President William J. Clinton on September 14, 1994, and confirmed by the Senate Finance Committee on March 17, 1995. He was sworn in as a Judge on May 1, 1995.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Vasquez was in private practice representing clients in tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Tax Court. He worked with the Office of Chief Counsel, IRS, Houston office from 1978 to 1982.
In 1984, Judge Vasquez became the first Hispanic attorney to be certified in tax law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He received a CPA certificate from the States of Texas and California. He has been a member of the Austin IRS District/Practitioners Liaison Committee and was its chairperson in 1991. He served as treasurer of the San Antonio Mexican American Bar Association (MABA) from 1982 to 1994, and state chapter of NABA from 1986 to 1988.
Judge Vasquez is currently a member of the American Bar Association Tax Section, National Judicial College, National Hispanic Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Foundation, San Antonio Bar Foundation (Life Fellow), and MABA of San Antonio.
