With the majestic backdrop of more than 22 judges in robes inside Bexar County Courthouse’s Historic Presiding Courtroom, Joey Contreras, a longtime federal prosecutor, was sworn in Wednesday in a formal investiture ceremony to preside over the 187th Criminal District Court.

Contreras, originally from Houston, has spent nearly 30 years as a trial lawyer. He has prosecuted high-profile cases involving organized crime groups such as the Texas Mexican Mafia and the Texas Syndicate. Most recently, he was an assistant U.S. attorney based in San Antonio working in the White Collar Unit. He also has served in the San Antonio Division’s Major Crimes Unit.