2026 Texas General Election

Courtney Smith Cain

Buket Urgen

Legal Experience

Public Safety

Criminal Justice

- Represents the state and victims of crime in prosecuting felony-level and misdemeanor criminal cases in district courts within the county. Represents the county in civil cases.
- Can be at sole discretion as to whether a case is prosecuted.
- Works with law enforcement officers in criminal case investigations, while preparing arrest and search warrants.
- Represents victims of domestic abuse through obtaining protective orders. Represents children in Child Protective Services cases.
- Provides county officials with written opinions or advice on their official duties.
- Criminal district attorneys are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county. They also must be a registered lawyer or judge in the state of Texas.
- The annual salary for criminal district attorneys range from $175,000 to $210,000, set by the county’s Commissioners Court.

Represents the state and victims of cases in district courts.