Chief Justice Salas Mendoza began her career at the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law in Los Angeles, where she trained volunteers to assist low-income clients representing themselves in family law matters.  She was a staff attorney at the El Paso Legal Assistance Society (later TRLA), then served as Assistant County Attorney focusing on civil defense work. In 2006, Chief Salas was elected judge of the 120th District Court where she served  for 18 years.

Chief Salas is past chair of the Hispanic Lawyers Section, founder of Texas Latinx Judges, and former District 11 Director of the NAWJ. She also serves on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, Pattern Jury Charge Committee (Business) and ABA Standing Committee on Diversity in the Judiciary.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, she graduated from Harvard College and  the UCLA School of Law. She is the proud mother of Michael, Austin, Melina and Dillon.