Joel Perez was first elected to the 437th District Court in 2022. Before that he practiced law for more than 30 years, working as a defense attorney and a prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s office. He is unopposed in his bid for a second term.

Joel Perez | 2026 candidate for 437th District Court - San Antonio Report

Joel previously practiced law for more than 30 years as a defense attorney and a prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

Meet the judicial candidates in Bexar County's March primary

437th Criminal District Court
JUDGE Joel Perez (D)
Ph: 210-335-2711
Term: 4 Years
Expires: 2026
437th Criminal District Court Website

District Courts | Bexar County

Joel currently serves as judge of the 437th Criminal District Court. He was first elected in 2022 and is seeking a second term.

Criminal District Courts | Bexar County, TX - Official Website

2026 Texas General Election

Practiced law for more than 30 years, including as a criminal defense attorney.

Worked as a prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuting cases on the office’s behalf.

Serves as judge of Bexar County’s 437th Criminal District Court, presiding over cases within the court’s jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

- Worked as a prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuting cases on the office’s behalf.
- Serves as judge of Bexar County’s 437th Criminal District Court, presiding over cases within the court’s jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

Legal Experience

Denied the prosecution's request to delay the trial of former San Antonio Police Department officer James Brennand.

# WATCH: Ex-SAPD officer James Brennand makes appearance in Bexar County courtroom

Published: July 13, 2026 at 10:27 AM

Judge Joel Perez, who presides over Bexar County's 437th Criminal District Court, denied the prosecution's request Monday morning for a delay in the trial of former SAPD officer James Brennand.

WATCH: Ex-SAPD officer James Brennand makes appearance in Bexar County courtroom

As of July 22, 2026, Joel Perez did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

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Joel Perez

- Serves as judge of Bexar County’s 437th Criminal District Court, presiding over cases within the court’s jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

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

Joel Perez is from San Antonio, Texas. He has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Texas. 

Home | Joel Perez - State Bar of Texas

Joel is a judge for the 437th District Court in Bexar County. He previously worked as a teacher and later transitioned to private law practice.

Joel is currently a judge on the 437th Criminal District Court.

Has worked to improve education in San Antonio for over a decade.

Joel Perez is currently the judge of the 437th Criminal District Court. His four-year term expires in 2026.

Father sentenced to life in prison in child abuse case - KSAT

As a dedicated community leader and advocate for education in San Antonio, Joel Perez has spent over a decade working to improve the educational landscape for students in the area.

Dedicated community leader and advocate for education, with over a decade of experience improving the educational landscape in San Antonio.

Joel is a judge at the 437th Criminal District Court in Bexar County. He previously worked as a teacher.

Joel is a private practice attorney specializing in criminal law. He previously worked as a teacher in San Antonio.

Joel is an attorney with a private law practice. He previously worked as a teacher. He has also been involved in various initiatives aimed at improving education in San Antonio.

Joel Perez is from San Antonio, Texas. He has a bachelor27s degree from the University of Texas.

Joel is an attorney with a private law practice.

As an attorney at the Law Office of Joel Perez, Perez researches, drafts, and files legal documents, and provides defense and counsel to clients, specializing in criminal law.

Joel is a judge at the 437th Criminal District Court. He works at the court. He previously worked at his private law practice focusing on criminal law.

As a dedicated community leader and advocate for education in San Antonio, Joel Perez has over a decade of experience working to improve the educational landscape for students in the area.

Joel Perez is from San Antonio, Texas. He has lived in the San Antonio area for over a decade.

Joel is an attorney with a private law practice. He previously worked as a teacher.

Joel is an attorney at his private law practice. He has practiced law since receiving his Texas license in 1988.

Joel Perez is currently the judge of the 437th Criminal District Court. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term, which expires in 2026.

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

- 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. 