The origins of Stephen G. Ralls’s nicknames, “El Vaquero” (the Cowboy) and “El Abogado del Diablo” (Devil’s Advocate) date back more than forty years. It all started when Steve, a recent graduate eager to make a name for himself, created his trademark look by wearing a suit with cowboy boots in court. Initially, it was his exceptional skills and courtroom successes in handling difficult cases for his clients that made him stand out, not the simple boots he could afford at the time. After his career took off, Steve switched to wearing boots made from exotic leathers, such as alligator, giving rise to his nickname “El Vaquero.” Individuals who spent time in Arizona courts recount hearing the “click-clunk” sound of Steve’s boots walking across the courtroom toward another legal battle.

Steve’s other nickname, “El Abogado del Diablo,” came later in his career. Contrary to what you might think, the nickname was not inspired by the 1997 movie starring Al Pacino. Instead, it was inspired by Steve’s well-established reputation over his four-decade-long successful career. It was commonly thought among some circles that if a person found themselves in legal trouble for serious crimes, the only attorney capable of extricating them was Steve Ralls. Former clients in both Mexico and the United States used this nickname as a way to emphasize his skilled representation.

However, it was nearly a decade ago when this nickname gained public attention through an interview with Steve conducted by a journalist from the Spanish-language news outlet Univision. When asked about his nickname “El Abogado del Diablo,” Mr. Ralls laughed. That interview spread through social media networks and led to international recognition of the nickname, notably since his law firm focused on defending high-level drug traffickers facing extradition, drug, and money laundering charges.