2026 Texas General Election

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Elisabeth Earle

Elisabeth Earle is from Austin, Texas. She has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from St. Mary 27s University School of Law. She and her husband, Jeff, have two daughters.

Elisabeth is a judge. She is the presiding judge of Travis County Court-at-Law #7, a position she has held since 2002. She previously served as a municipal court judge for the City of Austin and helped create the Downtown Austin Community Court, the first community court in Texas. Before taking the bench, she worked as a prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney's Office, focusing on domestic violence cases. She also worked for the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee and the Governor's Office in the Criminal Justice Division for Governor Ann Richards. 

Elisabeth is currently the presiding judge of Travis County Court-at-Law #7. She was first elected to this position in 2002. She also served as a municipal court judge for the City of Austin.

Travis County Judge Elisabeth Earle no longer eyeing County ...

As a prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney’s Office, focused on domestic violence cases.

As a municipal court judge, helped create the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC), the first community court in Texas and the seventh in the United States.

As a county court-at-law judge, Earle oversees civil cases, including suits involving more than $25000, family law matters, and the probate of wills and administration of estates. She also handles criminal cases involving misdemeanors and minor criminal offenses.

As of July 22, 2026, Elisabeth Earle’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As a judge, founded the Travis County DWI Court, a treatment-based program aimed at reducing addiction and repeat offenses.

Supports "restorative justice" and "smart-on-crime policies."

Served as Chair of the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section and the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors.

Serves on the Judicial Advisory Board of Responsibility.org.

Served on the boards of the Salvation Army, Community Action Network, and Leadership Austin.

Mentors young people through programs like the National Women Judges’ Color of Justice, which encourages students from all backgrounds to pursue legal careers.

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Elisabeth is a presiding judge at the Travis County Court-at-Law bench. She has served there since 2002. She previously worked as a municipal court judge for the City of Austin, as a prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney’s Office focusing on domestic violence cases, as a staff member in the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee and in the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office under Governor Ann Richards, and as an attorney at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in London.

Elisabeth Earle is currently Presiding Judge of Travis County Court-at-Law #7. She was first elected to the County Court-at-Law bench in 2002 and continues to serve in that role.

As a municipal court judge, helped create the Downtown Austin Community Court, the first community court in Texas and the seventh in the United States.

Elected as a judge of the County Court-at-Law in 2002.

As a judge, Earle founded and leads the Travis County DWI (driving while intoxicated) Court, an intensive, treatment-based program that helps individuals break the cycle of addiction and repeat offenses.

Legal Experience

Judicial Philosophy

Founded and leads the Travis County DWI Court, a treatment-based program aimed at reducing addiction and repeat offenses.

Supports the use of diversion courts, saying they "keep our streets safe, help offenders change their lives... and save taxpayers money."

Judicial Administration

Supports reducing drunk driving and preventing repeat offenses.

Ethics & Conduct

Served on the boards of the Salvation Army, Community Action Network, Leadership Austin, and Volunteer Legal Services of Austin.

Community Involvement

- A County Court-At-Law judge handles misdemeanors, such as assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer. They also handle civil cases where the amount in question does not exceed $200,000. 
- County Court-At-Law judges conduct arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and jury trials, as well as accept guilty pleas. 
- They are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for County Court-At-Law Judges ranges from $174,000 to $244,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Handles civil and criminal cases from District Courts.