2026 Texas General Election

Jurisdiction: Travis

299th District Court Judge Karen Sage (IN) up for re-election 2026. Sage earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Judge Sage was an Assistant District Attorney for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

District Candidates Travis County

Karen R. Sage earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Judicial District Candidates Travis | Face to Face Project

Karen earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Formerly, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County where she was given the task of creating the first felony mental health docket for the County. In 2014 Judge Sage and the Travis County Adult Probation Department worked together to form the first SAFPF Re-Entry Docket in Central Texas.

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She is a member of the Austin Bar Association, The American Bar Association and The National Association of Women Judges.

Before moving to Austin, Judge Sage worked as a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. Prior to working in the US Attorney’s Office, Judge Sage served as Counsel to the Mayor of Los Angeles.

Before moving to Austin, Judge Sage worked as a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. Prior to working in the US Attorney’s Office, Judge Sage served as Counsel to the Mayor of Los Angeles. Judge Sage began her legal career with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, which she joined after graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota.

Prior to working in the US Attorney’s Office, Judge Sage served as Counsel to the Mayor of Los Angeles. Judge Sage began her legal career with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, which she joined after graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota. Judge Sage is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Law School of the University of Texas where she teaches a class on the Ethics of Criminal Law.

Judge Sage began her legal career with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, which she joined after graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota. Judge Sage is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Law School of the University of Texas where she teaches a class on the Ethics of Criminal Law.

Karen R. Sage is an adjunct professor of law at the Law School of the University of Texas. She previously served as an assistant district attorney for Travis County and as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and was counsel to the mayor of Los Angeles. She began her legal career at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles.

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Karen is an adjunct professor of law at the Law School of the University of Texas. She previously served as an assistant district attorney for Travis County and as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and was counsel to the mayor of Los Angeles. She began her legal career at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles.

299th District Court
The Honorable Karen Sage

Judge Sage has served as the presiding judge of the 299th District Court since January, 2011.

299th District Court Guidelines

299th Criminal District Court

Karen Sage was elected as judge of the 299th District Court in 2010. As Judge of the 299th District Court, she presides over felony criminal matters. In addition to her criminal docket, Judge Sage has focused much of her efforts on creating new ways of dealing with defendants who suffer from substance abuse.

Karen currently serves as judge of the 299th District Court. She was elected to the court in 2010.

299th Criminal District Court | Travis County, Texas

Karen R. Sage currently serves as judge of the 299th District Court. She was elected to the court in 2010.

Served as a Travis County assistant district attorney and created the county's first felony mental health docket.

Worked as a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Served as counsel to the mayor of Los Angeles before joining the United States Attorney’s Office.

Began her legal career with the O’Melveny & Myers law firm in Los Angeles.

Serves as presiding judge of the 299th District Court, a position held since January 2011.

- Served as a Travis County assistant district attorney and created the county's first felony mental health docket.
- Worked as a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
- Served as counsel to the mayor of Los Angeles before joining the United States Attorney’s Office.
- Began her legal career with the O’Melveny & Myers law firm in Los Angeles.
- Serves as presiding judge of the 299th District Court, a position held since January 2011.

Legal Experience

Formerly, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County where she was given the task of creating the first felony mental health docket for the County. In 2014 Judge Sage and the Travis County Adult Probation Department worked together to form the first SAFPF Re-Entry Docket in Central Texas. The SAFPF Re-entry docket is focused on helping the highest risk/highest needs offenders in the criminal justice system integrate back into the community after drug treatment.

Focused on developing new approaches for defendants with substance-abuse issues.

Worked with the Travis County Adult Probation Department to establish Central Texas's first SAFPF Re-Entry Docket in 2014.

- Focused on developing new approaches for defendants with substance-abuse issues.
- Worked with the Travis County Adult Probation Department to establish Central Texas's first SAFPF Re-Entry Docket in 2014.

Judicial Administration

As of July 22, 2026, Karen R. Sage did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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Karen R. Sage

- Serves as presiding judge of the 299th District Court, a position held since January 2011.

As of July 22, 2026, Karen R. Sage’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Karen is a district judge. She works at the 299th District Court in Travis County. She previously worked at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

- District judges manage Texas district courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction, and have exclusive authority over felony cases. A judge may be presiding over a civil, criminal, juvenile, or special court. They also share jurisdiction with Texas county courts.
- Texas has over 470 district courts, each presided over by a single judge. Some courts cover multiple counties, while others are assigned to single counties based on population size.
- District judges are elected through partisan elections for four-year terms. Candidates must be between 25 and 75 years old, have lived in the district for at least 2 years, and be licensed lawyers with at least 4 years' experience.
- The annual salary for district judges ranges from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service.

Presides over a trial court with general jurisdiction. 

Texas District Judge, District 299

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