Jurisdiction: Travis

331st District Court Judge Chantal Melissa Eldridge (IN) up for re-election 2026. Eldridge received her B.S. in business administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She earned her J.D. from the University of Santa Clara School of Law.

District Candidates – Travis County

Chantal Melissa Eldridge earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of Santa Clara School of Law.

Judicial District Candidates Travis | Face to Face Project

Chantal earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of Santa Clara School of Law.

Graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Santa Clara School of Law

An attorney since 1989, Chantal has practiced predominately criminal defense for over twenty years.

Texas Directory Online: Chantal Melissa Eldridge

Chantal has worked as an attorney, practicing primarily criminal defense law.

The Honorable Chantal Melissa Eldridge (D) - Texas State Directory

The Honorable Chantal Eldridge
Judge Eldridge has served as the presiding judge of the 331st District Court since January, 2019.

Drug Court

331st Criminal District Court | Travis County

Chantal has served as the presiding judge of the 331st District Court since January 2019.

331st Criminal District Court | Travis County, Texas

Chantal Melissa Eldridge has served as the presiding judge of the 331st District Court since January 2019.

2026 Texas General Election

Practices primarily in criminal defense and has been an attorney since 1989.

Has served as presiding judge of the 331st District Court since January 2019.

- Practices primarily in criminal defense and has been an attorney since 1989.
- Has served as presiding judge of the 331st District Court since January 2019.

Legal Experience

# Why I’m Running
When I was first elected, the 331st District Court was one of the lowest-performing felony courts in Travis County. In my first year, I turned it into the highest-performing.
I’m running for re-election because there’s still more work to do.

Re-elect Chantal | Support Fair Justice Today

Said she turned the 331st District Court from one of Travis County's lowest-performing felony courts into its highest-performing court in her first year.

- Said she turned the 331st District Court from one of Travis County's lowest-performing felony courts into its highest-performing court in her first year.

Judicial Administration

I’m running for re-election because there’s still more work to do. I believe in a criminal justice system that treats people with dignity, offers real opportunities for rehabilitation, and makes our community safer through smart, compassionate practices. Every person who walks into a courtroom in Travis County deserves fairness, transparency, and a judge who listens.

Every person who walks into a courtroom in Travis County deserves fairness, transparency, and a judge who listens. I’ve strived to make sure that happens in the 331st District Court, and when re-elected I will continue to ensure that is the case.

Believes the criminal justice system should treat people with dignity, offer rehabilitation opportunities, and use smart, compassionate practices to improve community safety.

Plans to continue ensuring fairness and transparency and to be a judge who listens to people entering Travis County courtrooms.

- Believes the criminal justice system should treat people with dignity, offer rehabilitation opportunities, and use smart, compassionate practices to improve community safety.
- Plans to continue ensuring fairness and transparency and to be a judge who listens to people entering Travis County courtrooms.

Judicial Philosophy

A Travis County Grand Jury declined to indict Chantal Eldridge this afternoon. Eldridge, who is set to take over as judge of the 331st District Court in January, had been accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old Brazilian foreign exchange student who lived at her house for a period of time in 2006.

Grand Jury No-Bills Chantal Eldridge

Eldridge’s case was presented to the grand jury during three days this week by Rusty Hardin, a Houston attorney who served as a special prosecutor after District Attorney Margaret Moore recused herself from the case.
Eldridge, an indigent defense attorney who beat incumbent David Crain in the March primary by 38 points, has denied the charges against her ever since they first came into the public forum via a Statesman story in February. That story reported that the exchange student alleged he was invited to play strip poker with Eldridge at her dining room table, which led to sex in the bedroom he had been occupying.

Faced sexual-assault allegations involving a 16-year-old exchange student in 2006; a Travis County grand jury declined to indict her, and she denied the allegations.

- Faced sexual-assault allegations involving a 16-year-old exchange student in 2006; a Travis County grand jury declined to indict her, and she denied the allegations.

Ethics & Conduct

As of July 22, 2026, Chantal Melissa Eldridge’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Community Involvement

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Chantal Melissa Eldridge

Chantal is a private practice attorney specializing in criminal law. She previously worked as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. William A. Ingram of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and as an intern for Hon. John A. Arguelles of the California Supreme Court. She also worked as a bankruptcy and commercial business litigation associate at Sedgwick, Desert, Moran & Arnold and as an associate at Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles, where she handled all aspects of commercial business litigation. Chantal also operated her own private practice in Cookeville, Tennessee, defending felony and misdemeanor defendants. 

Chantal is currently a judge on the 331st District Court.

Progressing toward a better way of picking judges? - WRAL

As an attorney, has worked in criminal defense for over 20 years.

Chantal is a private practice attorney specializing in criminal law. She previously worked as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. William A. Ingram of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and as an intern for Hon. John A. Arguelles of the California Supreme Court. She also worked as a bankruptcy and commercial business litigation associate at Sedgwick, Desert, Moran & Arnold, and as an associate at Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles, where she handled commercial business litigation. Chantal also operated her own private practice in Cookeville, Tennessee, defending felony and misdemeanor defendants. 

Chantal previously ran for Travis County District Judge in 2024 but did not win.

As an attorney, has worked primarily in criminal defense.

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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. 