[4] He received his Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, from Stanford University in 1991 and his Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law in 1994.

He worked as a staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 1996 to 1997.

President Biden nominated Vera to the seat vacated by Judge Margaret M. Morrow, who assumed senior status on October 29, 2015.

[9] On January 3, 2022, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate;[10] he was renominated the same day.

[14] On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the Senate; he was renominated later the same day.